§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the financial turnover for the National Health Service Supplies Authority in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement on its future operation.
Nursing and midwifery staff by geographical area England—September 1987 to 1991 (wte) Excluding agency staff1 September Regional health authorities 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Northern 27,540 27,770 27,800 27,310 27,270 Yorkshire 30,300 30,150 30,120 30,020 29,460 Trent 37,970 38,250 38,100 38,210 37,950 East Anglia 15,750 15,950 16,150 16,140 15,730 North West Thames 26,800 26,670 26,810 26,480 26,480 North East Thames 32,410 32,730 32,890 32,980 32,750 South East Thames 29,650 29,280 29,350 29,110 28,280 South West Thames 23,250 23,030 22,940 22,120 21,590 Wessex 23,160 23,620 23,360 23,690 23,570 Oxford 17,090 16,930 16,950 17,080 16,820 South Western 27,360 27,220 27,150 27,340 27,030 West Midlands 42,910 41,870 42,130 42,070 41,300 Mersey 21,950 22,110 21,960 21,090 20,100 North Western 37,190 37,490 37,510 36,990 36,480 London post graduate special health authorities 4,570 4,570 4,820 4,650 5,270 England total 397,910 397,650 398,050 395,360 1392,200 Source: Department of health HAP(STATS)B annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.
Note: All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.
1 The total for 1991 includes about 2,100 WTEs which are not included in the figures above. The corresponding shortfall for 1987–90 inclusive is much smaller.
640W
Agency nursing and midwifery staff working in the NHS by geographical area 1987–91 England at 30 September each year(wte) Regional health authorities 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Northern —2 —3 —3 —2 —3 Yorkshire 90 180 160 120 110 Trent —3 30 150 10 130 East Anglia 220 190 190 280 240 North West Thames 990 1,160 1,540 1,080 710 North East Thames 1,900 1,750 1,530 1,190 910 South East Thames 1,130 1,200 1,250 1,000 430
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe National Health Service Supplies Authority was established in October 1991 but has only assumed full operational responsibility for all supply matters with effect from 1 October 1992. Its annualised turnover for the current financial year is expected to be £510 million, plus an additional £3,000 million for goods and services procured on behalf of customers which are delivered and invoiced directly to them.
NHS Supplies was set up:
to provide a professional and responsive supplies service that meets both the present and future needs of its customers;to ensure the best value for money for every pound the NHS spends on goods and services; andto save its customers money that could be better spent on health care.The performance of NHS Supplies against targets agreed with the authority will be subject to continuing scrutiny by the NHS Management Executive.