HL Deb 11 December 1997 vol 584 cc54-5WA
The Earl of Munster

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of National Health Service medical posts is filled by overseas doctors, excluding those from the European Community.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The number and percentage of medical staff in Great Britain qualified outside the European Economic Area as at 30 September 1996 is shown in the table:

Hospitals Community Health Services General Medical Practitioners
All staff 68.320 4,360 32,160
Qualified Overseas 15,460 1,040 5,050
Percentage Qualified Overseas 22.6% 23.9% 15.7%

Sources:

The HCHS Medical Workforce Census (30 September 1996) and the General Medical Practitioner Census (1 October 1996) which refers to unrestricted principals.

Notes:

1. These data refer to actual doctors working in the NI-1S reported in the annual censuses of 1996.

2. All staff figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

3. Percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.

4. Only GB data are available.