§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of doctors employed by the national health service in each year since 1974.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information requested is given in the following table.
National health service doctors in England Year All staff 1974 49,107 1975 55,629 1976 57,167 1977 58,502 1978 60,001 1979 61,554 1980 63,130 1981 64,612 1982 65,991 1983 66,910 1984 67,282 1985 68,194 1986 68,839 1987 69,532 1988 70,995 1989 72,446 Notes to the table:
Figures relate to hospital and community health service medical staff 429W holding permanent paid and honorary appointments as at 30 September each year and general medical practitioners as at 1 October each year.
Prior to 1975 comparable community health service medical staff figures are not available and are therefore not included. With the national health service reorganisation on 1 April 1974 the responsibility of this service was transferred from local authorities and the DES to the national health service.