§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of new consultant posts created in the National Health Service since 1974; and if he will also give details of the number of consultant posts created for those involved in (a) clinical and hospital work and (b) community medicine for each year since 1974.
§ Mr. HayhoeInformation in the precise form requested is not available. However, over the period 30 September 1974 to 30 September 1984 the number of consultants in post in medical and dental specialties in England and Wales, including equivalent grades in community medicine, increased by 2,840. Details for each year of the period of the number of consultants in post and (where available) of the number of vacant posts, distinguishing between the hospital services and community medicine, are set out in the tables.
Number of Consultant Posts*; in the Hospital Service at 30 September each year England and Wales Year In Post Vacant Posts† ‡1974 11,627 667 1975 11,946 749 1976 12,345 720 1977 12,487 845 1978 12,766 905 1979 13,028 922 1980 13,284 1,194 1981 13,581 1,096 1982 13,796 1,061 1983 14,124 1,016 1984 14,450 998 * Including hospital medical and dental consultants and senior hospital medical officers and senior hospital dental officers with allowances. † Due to the change in definition of vacant posts in 1980 figures for 1979 and earlier years are not strictly comparable. 87W
Number of Consultant-level Community Medicines Posts* at 30 September each year England and Wales Year In post Vacant posts †1974 531 ║ 1975 612 130 1976 623 123 1977 657 121 1978 648 137 1979 638 139 1980 639 145 1981 637 102 ‡1982 553 141 1983 580 140 1984 548 126 * Including regional medical officer, district medical officer; specialist in community medicine and special salary scale staff. † The NHS re-organisation in 1974 is believed to have caused a significant under reporting of staff returned by authorities.
‡ In 1982 as a result of restructuring the grades of area medical officer and district community physician were abolished. About 70 doctors who did not take up district medical officer posts took early retirement.
║ Not available.