MEDICAL WORKFORCE STATISTICS PUBLISHED

[COI]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

98/336 Friday 14th August 1998

MEDICAL WORKFORCE STATISTICS PUBLISHED

Figures that show the number of medical and dental staff working for
the NHS in hospitals and community health services in England are
published today by the Department of Health.

The ninth annual statistical bulletin contains information by grade,
sex, type of contract, specialty, country of qualification and ethnic
origin.

Some of the main findings are:

* About 66,340 doctors and dentists were employed in the
hospital, public health medicine and community health
service on 30 September 1997 in England, an increase of 23
per cent since 1987. The number of hospital medical staff
increased by 35 per cent over the same period;

* On average, the number of hospital medical consultants grew
by 3.6 per cent and the number of junior doctors by 3.1 per
cent each year during the period 1987-1997. The junior
doctor to consultant ratio fell from 1.52:1 in 1987 to
1.45:1 in 1997.

* The proportion of hospital medical consultants who are
female grew from 14 per cent in 1987 to 20 per cent in
1997. Recent increases in the percentages of women in the
junior grades suggest that this percentage is set to rise
further.

* Between 1987 and 1997, consultant numbers grew fastest in
accident and emergency and paediatrics.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The tables and charts presented in the bulletin are based on the
Department of Health annual census of NHS hospital and community
health service medical and dental staff.

2. The bulletin - 'Hospital Public Health Medicine and Community
Health Service Medical and Dental Staff in England 1987 to 1997' - is
published by the Government Statistical Service. It is free and may
be obtained from: Department of Health, PO Box 410, Wetherby, LS23
7LN.

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