§ Ms JowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of non-clinical managers in the NHS earning over £30,000 per year were women for each year since 1991; [7532]
(2) how many chief executives of hospital trusts were women in each year since 1991. [7534]
§ Ms JowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to improve the representation of women in the higher levels of management in the NHS. [7533]
§ Mr. HoramThe Department of Health, on behalf of the national health service, is a founder member of opportunity 2000—the business-led campaign to improve the representation of women at the top of organisations.
The NHS women's unit was established in October 1991 to take forward work on implementing Opportunity 2000 and eight goals were issued to the service for achievement by 31 December 1994, including a goal to increase the proportion of women in general management posts from 18 per cent. in 1991 to 30 per cent. in 1994.
As part of the policy review in March 1995, a special survey was undertaken which showed that women had been appointed to 38 per cent.—83 out of 214—of vacant chief executive general manager posts filled in the three years to 31 December 1994, with women now occupying 28 per cent. of posts at this level.
The NHS executive was commended on its outstanding achievement at the first Opportunity 2000 awards ceremony held in October 1995. Building on this success, a new set of goals was issued to the service for 341W achievement by 30 September 1998 including a goal to increase the percentage of women in top management posts to 35 per cent.