HL Deb 14 October 1997 vol 582 cc162-3WA
Baroness Cumberlege

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the number of outpatients (all specialties) in the NHS in each year since 1970.

Baroness Jay of Paddington

The information is shown in the following table.

Table: total number of outpatient attendances in NHS hospitals (000s)
Year England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Yearly Total
1970 32,355 3,633 1,655 — 37,643
1971 33,129 3,582 1,690 — 38,401
1972 33,243 3,557 1,699 — 38,499
1973 33,318 3,540 1,694 — 38,552
1974 33,352 3,877 1,743 — 38,972
1975 30,947 3,825 1,647 — 36,419
1976 32,396 3,866 1,728 — 37,990
1977 32,282 3,914 1,740 — 38,936
1978 33,950 3,905 1,762 — 39,617
1979 34,100 3,957 1,803 — 39,860
1980 35,243 4,023 1,900 — 41,166
Table: total number of outpatient attendances in NHS hospitals (000s)
Year England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland Yearly Total
1981 35,571 4,131 1,962 213 41,877
1982 35,651 4,150 1,959 — 41,760
1983 36,520 4,025 2,083 225 42,853
1984 37,043 4,240 2,128 229 43,640
1985 37,440 4,289 2,203 243 44,175
1986 37,728 4,364 2,268 243 44,603
1987–88 36,846 4,383 2,315 247 43,791
1988–89 36,118 4,445 2,295 258 43,116
1989–90 36,305 4,443 2,315 264 43,327
1990–91 36,112 4,494 2,320 269 43,195
1991–92 36,894 4,546 2,369 283 44,092
1992–93 37,527 4,598 2,440 295 44,860
1993–94 38,202 4,680 2,546 311 45,739
1994–95 39,306 4,720 2,588 328 46,942
1995–96 40,118 4,773 2,570 336 47,797

Notes:

England:

Moved to counting over the financial year rather than calendar year from 1987–88.

Scotland:

Figures for 1970–75 are year ending 30 September.

Attendances at consultant outpatient clinics. Excludes Accident and Emergency attendance.

Figure for 1971 based on data for six months ending 31 March 1971.

Wales:

Moved to counting over the financial year rather than calendar year from 1983–84.

Northern Ireland:

Moved to counting over the financial year rather than calendar year from 1988–89.

Complete information is not available for 1982 due to an industrial dispute.

Information before 1981, if available. can only be provided at disproportionate cost.