HC Deb 27 November 1991 vol 199 cc535-6W
Mr. Moate

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of general practitioners, nurses and midwives currently employed in the national health service relative to 1979.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The information requested is given in the table.

NHS nursing and midwifery staff (including agency) and general practitioners
England
Year 1 Nursing and midwifery Whole-time equivalents 1 2General Practitioners Numbers (head count)
1979 3358,400 36,000
1990 402,100 43,800
1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest one hundred (100).
2 Includes medical, dental and ophthalmic practitioners.
3 Not adjusted for reduction in nurses working hours during 1980/81 (from 40 to 37.5 hours per week).

Source: Department of Health (SM 13) annual census of NHS non-medical manpower; General Medical Services basic statistics; Dental Practice Board; and Family Health Services Authorities.