§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from suicide were recorded of(a) doctors and (b) nurses, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available [84971]
§ Ruth KellyI have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Evan Harris, dated 4 December 2002:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths were recorded of (a) doctors and (b) nurses, in each of the last ten years for which figures are available. (84971)911WFigures requested for each year from 1992 to 2001 are given in the table below. Occupations are coded by ONS using the Standard Occupational Classification. For deaths to 2000, the version first published in 1990 (SOC 90) was used. A revised and updated classification, SOC 2000, was used to code deaths for 2001 and is in current use. Figures for 2001 are therefore not comparable with those for earlier years.
Number of deaths from suicide and injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted1, for doctors and nurses2, England and Wales, 1992 to 20013 Year Doctors Nurses 1992 18 56 1993 18 52 1994 25 64 1995 13 61 1996 13 54 1997 16 55 1998 17 56 1999 17 56 2000 22 74 2001 21 37 1 Cause of death defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (1CD-9) codes E950–E959 and E980–E989 excluding E988.8 for the years 1992 to 2000, and, for the year 2001, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (1CD-10) codes X60–X84 and Y10–Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending. 2 Last gainful occupation of the deceased for persons aged 16 to 74. For years 1992 to 2000 occupations defined using SOC 90 classification codes 220 (medical practitioners) and 340 (nurses). For 2001 occupations defined using SOC 2000 classification codes 2211 (medical practitioners) and 3211 (nurses). 3 Figures are for deaths registered in 1992 and for deaths occurring in each calendar year from 1993 to 2001.