§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the latest figures and list for each of the last four years by region the number of(a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) midwives, (d) health visitors, (e) administration and clerical staff and f managers.
592W
Number of prescribed items (millions) dispensed in the Family Health Services in England 1989 to 1993 and revenue from prescription charges (£ million) in England 1989–90 to 1993–94 Prescribed items1 Charge revenue2 Dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors Year Total Free of charge Charge paid Dispensed by dispensing doctors Personally administered free of charge by prescribing doctors Year Amount Free of charge Charge paid 1989 383.5 273.7 78.2 25.6 6.0 1989–90 189.3 1990 394.8 282.8 77.7 26.8 7.5 1990–91 205.9 1991 406.5 296.4 74.3 27.7 8.1 1991–92 215.2 1992 425.1 313.1 73.6 29.1 9.2 1992–93 242.0 1993 445.4 332.8 72.3 30.6 9.7 1993–94 265.3 1 1989 and 1990 figures are on fees; 1991 to 1993 figures are based on items. Figures may not sum to rounding 2 Includes revenue from sale of Prescription Prepayment certificates. 1993–94 figures and Provisional
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information will be placed in the Library. The number of managers has been deliberately increased since the mid 1980s—not just since the reforms —because the service was previously undermanaged. Much of the increase arises from the reclassification of existing staff—including many senior nurses—as manag-ers. General and senior managers still account for only 2 per cent. of the total national health service workforce in England and 3 per cent. of the total NHS expenditure on salaries and wages.