HC Deb 26 July 1985 vol 83 cc939-40W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give figures for the staffing ratio for acute beds in National Health Service hospitals for each of the years from 1973 to the latest date available.

Mr. John Patten

It is not possible to provide information on the basis requested as we cannot identify centrally all those staff working solely or mainly in the acute hospital services. The table gives the number of available acute beds in National Health Service hospitals in England, and the total numbers of directly-employed

Great Britain 30 September—Whole-time equivalents>*
1973 1977 Percentage increase 1978 1983 Percentage increase
Hospital Nurses† 311,400 349,800 12.3 357,700 405,000 13.2
Hospital Midwives† 18,600 20,800 11.8 20,800 22,700 9.1
Health Visitors‡• ║9,900 10,300 4.0 10,600 11,800 11.3
District Nurses¶• 12,200 15,500 27.0 16,300 18,800 15.3

NHS staff. While the table shows the number of acute beds has decreased since 1973, it is important to remember that the number of inpatient cases treated per bed — "throughput"—has risen by nearly 32 per cent. over the period.

England
Year NHS Directly employed staff* Average daily number of available acute beds†
1973 662,500 158,712
1974 674,200 158,437
1975 717,800 155,995
1976 742,500 155,420
1977 747,700 152,941
1978 759,700 149,914
1979 773,300 147,044
1980 791,900 144,720
1981 822,400 143,467
1982 828,500 141,842
1983 827,400 140,381
1984 817,600 —‡
* Figures rounded to the nearest hundred. Includes agency nursing and midwifery staff, locum medical and dental staff and staff at the Dental Estimates Board and Prescription Pricing Authority.
† 'Acute' is defined as all specialities except geriatrics, units for younger disabled, obstetrics and GP maternity, mental handicap and mental illness.
‡ Figures not yet available.

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