§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest figures are for the shortfall in (b) doctors and (b) nurses in the NHS. [18677]
§ Mr. HuttonThe NHS Plan acknowledges that a shortage of human resources is the biggest constraint faced by the National Health Service today. Targets for increasing the number of doctors and nurses were set in the NHS Plan and rolled forward in the manifesto before the last election.
The NHS Plan targets are for 7,500 more consultants, 2,000 more general practitioners and 20,000 more nurses by 2004. In September 2000 there were 1,100 more consultants, 126 more GPs and 6,300 more nurses than in September 1999, the NHS Plan baseline. The manifesto targets are for 10,000 more doctors and 20,000 more nurses by 2005 over the 2000 baseline.
The September 2001 census, giving the latest position against these targets, will be available in January 2002.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average annual rate of pay is for(a) nurses and (b) doctors (i) in the NHS and (ii) in the private sector. [18676]
§ Mr. HuttonWe estimate that as at August 2000, medical consultants were paid, on average, £65,000 basic salary, £72,000 total earnings, by National Health Service employers. The equivalent figures for nurses were £19,100 and £22,400.
Information is not available for staff working in the private sector.
Note:
Doctor's figures relate to medical consultants; nurses to qualified nurses in clinical grades D to G
Source:
Department of Health's August 2000 NHS staff earnings survey.