§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were employed in each category in the national health service in the Northern region in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were so employed in 1978.
§ Mr. MaloneThis information is shown in the table.
Directly-employed staff in the National Health Service, Northern Region as at 30 September 1978 and 1993—whole-time equivalents6 Total hospital community health service staff 1978 49180 1993 48560 Medical and dental1 2,380 3,010 Nursing and Midwifery2 (excluding agency) 22,960 24,580 Professions allied to medicine5 — 2,470 Professional and technical 3,240 2,100 Scientific and professional5 — 720 Works Professional 370 300 Maintenance 1,360 1,050 General and Senior Managers3 — 830 Administrative and clerical 5,700 7,030 Ambulance 1,420 1,250 Ancillary 11,740 5,190 Others4 — 50 Source:
Department of Health of Medical and Non-Medical Workforce Census.
Notes:
1Medical and dental staff exclude locum staff.
2Nursing and midwifery figures exclude agency staff. The 1993 figures also exclude students or Project 2000 training courses. Project 2000 students are regarded as supernumerary and are not included in workforce numbers. (In September 1993 there were about 28,000 Project 2000 students). By contrast traditional learners are counted as part of the workforce. In 1980–81 the contracted hours for nurses changed from 40 hours per week to 37.5 hours. Figures for nursing and midwifery are therefore not strictly comparable for the years shown.
3A new management class introduced in phases from 1984 following the Griffiths report (1983). There was one general manager in each health authority and HCHS unit. Senior managers were introduced in 1987 with up to 7 senior posts at Board level in each health authority, from 1989 senior management posts extended below Board level and to hospital Units. Most of these posts replaced those formerly counted within the administrative and clerical groups.
4A change in data collection procedures in September 1991 resulted in the creation of an 'other staff' category. This category comprises health care assistants and other staff on locally determined rates of pay.
5In 1978 Professional and Technical staff group included Professions Allied to Medicine and Scientific and Professional staff.
6All data are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalents.