Doctors (Premature Retirements)

HC Deb 07 November 1988 vol 140 cc57-8W

Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the number of premature retirements of National Health Service doctors for 1960, 1970, 1979, 1984 and 1988.

Mr. Mellor

We hold only central records of National Health Service staff premature retirements from 1984. Records held since that date show premature retirements by staff group rather than grade or title, and hospital doctors' premature retirements are recorded under the heading "medical and dental" without specific identification.

The numbers of premature retirements for medical and dental staff in England for the financial years since 1984 are as follows:

Financial Year	No. of Premature Retirements
1984–85	40
1985–86	34
1986–87	60
1987–88	60
1 1988–89	38

¹ First 6 months.