National Health Service (Staff Ratios) Mr. David Watkins asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the ratio of administrative to medical staff in the National Health Service in 1970 and each year since until the latest available date. Mr. Deakins The ratio of administrative and clerical staff to doctors in England in each year from 1971 to 1976 was as follows: ------ |1971| ------ |1972| ------ |1973| ------ |1974| ------ |1975| ------ |1976| ------ Figures for 1970 are not readily available. The increase is attributable to a number of factors, including increased support for professional staff engaged directly in patient care, for example ward clerks, records and appointments clerks; development and improvement of management functions, including financial control, resource planning and personnel management; and the provision of administrative support for community health councils.