§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of administration staff to total number of beds operating in the national health service was for each of the last 10 years. [14342]
1240W
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 13 November 2001]: The information requested is in the table. Comparative figures for 2001 are not yet available. Between 1996–97 and 2000–01 NHS management costs have fallen by £848 million and we remain on course to meet our manifesto commitment of £1 billion savings by 31 March 2002
Administration and estates staff1 Total daily average of NHS Beds2 Ratio3 1991 189,710 258,550 0.7 1992 200,610 246,080 0.8 1993 199,980 236,170 0.8 1994 203,330 224,380 0.9 1995 197,840 217,510 0.9 1996, 196,530 212,680 0.9 1997 196,700 210,520 0.9 1998 198,540 206,410 1.0 1999 204,620 203,340 1.0 2000 212,020 199,730 1.1 1 Figures are the headcount of Administration and Estates staff collected on 30 September each year in the Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2 Total Daily Average of NHS beds are the overnight beds, ie beds in wards open overnight. All NHS operating beds, includes other categories of beds such as beds that are in day only wards and NHS residential care beds, which are nursing home beds managed by the NHS. Source of data is Korner return KHO3 "bed availability and occupancy". 3 Ratios have been rounded to one decimal point.