§ Sir Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors are employed in the National Health Service; if he will break the figure down into hospital consultants, junior hospital doctors and general practitioners; and if he will give comparable figures for 1978–79.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 24 January 1989]: The information is set out in the table:
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Table: National Health Service Medical Staff in England Whole.time equivalents at 30 September 1978 1987 Medical staff1 33,796.1 39,012.7 Hospital consultants 10,381.9 12,830.5 Junior hospital doctors2 18,090.5 20,678.8
Whole-time equivalents at 30 September 1978 1987 Numbers at 1 October General medical practitioners 22,651 27,023 1 Including hospital, community health services and community medicine staff. 2 Including senior registrars, registrars, senior house officers and house officers.