Hansard

National Health Service Consultants

Volume 885: debated on Wednesday 5 February 1975

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Mr. Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the amount and date of each salary increase asked for by National Health Service consultants and the amount finally agreed between 1948 and the date the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Pay became operational;(2) What was the date and amount of each increase for consultants recommended by the National Health Service Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Pay since its inception;(3) If she will list all the increases, dates and amounts awarded to National Health Service hospital consultants since 1948.

Dr. Owen

The rates of basic salaries and distinction awards for National Health Service hospital consultants, with effective dates and amounts in increase, have been as follows since 1948:

SalaryEffective DateIncrease over Previous RateDistinction AwardIncrease of Distinction Award over Previous Rate
££££
1,700–2,750…5th July 1948…—A……2,500—
B……1,500
C……500
2,100–3,100…1st April 1954…Minimum…400No changeNone
Maximum…350
2,205–3,255…1st April 1957…Minimum…105No changeNone
Maximum…155
2,293–3,385…1st January 1959…Minimum…88No changeNone
Maximum…130
2,550–3,900…1st January 1960…Minimum…257A+…4,000*A……500
Maximum…515A……3,000B……250
B……1,750C……250
C……750
2,910–4,445…1st April 1963…Minimum…360A+…4,550A+…550
Maximum…545A……3,425A……425
B……2,000B……250
C……850C……100
3,200–4,885…1st October 1966…Minimum…290A+…4,885A+…335
Maximum…440A……3,700A……275
B……2,175B……175
C……925C……75
3,470–5,275…1st January 1969…Minimum…270A+…5,275A+…390
Maximum…390A……4,000A……300
B……2,350B……175
C……1,000C……75
4,512–6,330…1st April 1970…Minimum…1,042A+…6,330A+…1,055
Maximum…1,055A……4,800A……800
B……2,820B……470
C……1,200C……200
4,512–6,840…1st April 1971…Minimum…NilA+…6,840A+…510
Maximum…510A……5,190A……390
B……3,045B……225
C……1,296C……96
4,836–7,350…1st April 1972…Minimum…324A+…7,350A+…510
Maximum…510A……5,577A……387
B……3,273B……228
C……1,392C……96
5,085–7,599…1st April 1973…Minimum…249A+…7,350None
Maximum…249A……5,577
B……3,273
C……1,392
5,433–7,947…1st April 1974…Minimum…348A+…7,947A+…597
Maximum…348A……6,030A……453
B……3,540B…267
C……1,506C……114
* Now four categories.
The increase implemented with effect from 1st January 1960 was recommended by the Royal Commission on the Remuneration of Doctors and Dentists. The changes in rates in 1963 and subsequent years followed reviews by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body. In all cases the Review Body's recommendations relating to consultants were implemented, except that in 1970 the increase for consultants recommended by the Review Body was, in common with the increases recommended for general medical and dental practitioners, implemented only in part. The reports of the Review Body have normally included a summary of the evidence given by the professions' representatives, but details of the claims made since 1948 by consultants' representatives are not readily available.

Mr. Sydney Irving

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dental consultants and orthodontists in the National Health Service had contracts allowing them to engage in private practice in each of the last five years; and how these figures relate to the total numbers of consultants.

Dr. Owen

I regret that information about numbers of consultants in dental surgery and orthodontics given in my answer to my right hon. Friend's Question on 5th December 1974—[Vol. 882,

HOSPITAL MEDICAL AND DENTAL CONSULTANTS: ENGLAND AND WALES, 30TH SEPTEMBER
YearSpecialtyAll (including whole-time)Part-timeHonorary
1969…All specialties: Total……9,7885,618910
Dental surgery……281111105
Orthodontics……763213
1970…All specialties: Total……10,0785,710991
Dental surgery……295110118
Orthodontics……823315
1971…All specialties: Total……10,3675,7271,063
Dental surgery……299106122
Orthodontics……893416
1972…All specialties: Total……10,7035,6971,127
Dental surgery……308109125
Orthodontics……913416
1973…All specialties: Total……11,2195,7301,217
Dental surgery……330110137
Orthodontics……933017

Mr. David Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients' appointments, both in- and out-patients, have been cancelled or postponed because of the consultants' work-to-contract, throughout the National Health Service and in Basingstoke, respectively; and what steps are being taken to alleviate this situation.

Dr. Owen

In Basingstoke during the first three weeks in January a total of 2,023 out-patient appointments were cancelled or postponed. In-patient admissions were reduced by just over 60 per cent. compared with a corresponding period in the previous quarter.National figures of this kind are not available centrally, though I am aware that reductions in non-emergency admissions and in out-patient clinics have occurred in varying degrees in many other areas as a result of the industrial action imposed by the consultants.On the course of the dispute I have at present nothing to add to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 28th January.—[Vol. 885; c. 188–90.]