§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has given to health authorities about staffing levels appropriate for medical physics, radiation physics or other supporting disciplines to radiotherapy; what steps he has taken to ensure any such advice has been acted upon; and if he will place the text of such advice in the Library.
§ Mr. MellorI have placed in the Library a copy of circular HC(78)32, paragraphs 21 to 25 of which give guidance to health authorities on factors relevant to the staffing of radiotherapy departments. Specific staffing levels are a matter for individual authorities to determine. Reference to this advice is made wherever appropriate in the course of normal communications between authorities and the Department.
Medical Physicists pay rates 1986 1987 Grade Minimum £
Maximum £
Minimum £
Maximum £
Basic Probationer 7,452 9,360 7,825 9,828 Basic Post Probationer 7,716 9,996 8,102 10,496 Senior 10,632 13,896 11,164 14,591 Principal 13,704 18,948 14,389 19,895 Top Grade 19,080 22,836 20,034 23,978 Top Grade (with greater responsibility)
21,588 25,356 22,667 26,624
§ 1988. Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many posts were designated head of radiation physics within the National Health Service in(a) 1983 and (b)
§ Mr. MellorWe do not hold this information centrally.
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§ 1988. Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many medical physicists have been employed within the National Health Service in each of the last five years;
(2) how many physicists were working within the National Health Service in (a) 1983 and (b)
§ Mr. MellorThe only relevant information which we hold centrally is for staff in post at 30 September as set out in the table; figures for 1988 are not yet available.
Year NHS physicists (whole time equivalent) 1983 660 1984 700 1985 720 1986 770 1987 790 Source: Department of Health Annual Census of NHS Non-Medical Manpower.
Note: All figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalents.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has requested from health authorities or the Whitley council about the problems of recruitment of medical physicists, and on what dates;
(2) what information he has requested from health authorities or the Whitley council about the turnover of medical physicists, and on what dates.
§ Mr. MellorNone. I understand that the management Side of the Scientific and Professional Staffs Council has requested information from health authorities to assist a working party which it set up to investigate recruitment and retention of physicists and other scientists.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the pay bands for each grade of medical physicist in 1986, 1987 and 1988.
§ Mr. MellorThe information is set out in the table. April 1987 rates are under review and increases will take effect from 1 April 1988.