HC Deb 28 June 1990 vol 175 cc308-9W
Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the percentage change in the number of doctors within the national health service per 100,000 of population since 1979.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The requested information is given in the table.

Hospital and community health service medical staff and general medical practitioners in England
1979 1988
Doctors 61,554.0 70,995.0
Population 46,396.1 47,536.3
Doctors per 100,000 132.7 149.3
Percentage change 1979–88 — 12.6

Figures include permanent paid and honorary staff but exclude hospital practitioners and clinical assistants.