§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing the number of consultants,(b) National Health Service patients and(c) patients per consultant in each year since 1979 (i) nationally and (ii) for each National Health Service region.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information for(a) and (b) is given in the tables.
The information requested in (c) cannot be given in the form requested, because: (i) manpower figures represent a "snapshot" of staff in post on a particular day. Patient figures are aggregates over a calendar-financial year; (ii) the patient figures do not take account of the contribution given by other medical staff who may be engaged in providing treatment to in-patients, out-patients or accident and emergency patients.