I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 310 and 311 together.
The latest available employment data for the health services is in respect of year end 2004. The information requested by the Deputy on health service staff, including employment growth in each of the grade categories from end 1997 up to that date, is set out in the table below. However, some caution should be exercised in comparing employment growth between grade categories owing to some changes in their composition over the period.
Between 1997 and year end 2004, there was an increase in the level of employment of 30,882, or 45.5%, excluding home helps, in wholetime equivalent terms. In this context, comparing employment levels at end-December 2004 to those at end-1997, there were 40.9% — plus 2,037 — more medical-dental personnel, 116% — plus 6,892 — more health and social care professionals and 25.5% — plus 6,967 — more nurses employed in the health services in wholetime equivalent, WTE, terms.
The health service employment return does not gather information on the number of staff employed in the health services on a contract basis. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
The significantly increased staffing levels over the last eight years reflect the substantial service developments which have occurred, particularly in the areas of child protection and intellectual disability services. There have also been significant increases in staffing levels in acute hospitals arising from the national cancer strategy and the cardiovascular strategy. Resources must be targeted where most required and I have consistently stressed that, in the management of health service employment levels, front-line service delivery must be safeguarded.
Health Service Staffing at 31 December1.
|
Grade Category
|
1997
|
1998
|
2004
|
Increase 1997-2004
|
Increase 1998-2004
|
|
Medical/Dental
|
4,976
|
5,153
|
7,013
|
2,037
|
1,860
|
|
of which Consultants
|
1,308
|
1,319
|
1,871
|
563
|
552
|
|
Nursing
|
27,346
|
26,611
|
34,313
|
6,967
|
7,702
|
|
Health and Social Care Professionals
|
5,938
|
6,390
|
12,830
|
6,892
|
6,439
|
|
Management/ Administrative3
|
8,844
|
9,480
|
16,157
|
7,313
|
6,676
|
|
General Support Staff and Other Patient and Client Care
|
20,737
|
22,005
|
28,410
|
7,673
|
6,406
|
|
Total
|
67,841
|
69,640
|
98,723
|
30,882
|
29,083
|
Source: Health Service Personnel Census at 31 December.
Notes:
1Excludes Home Helps
2The professionalisation of Child Care Workers/House Parents resulted in grade category shift of these grades from Other Patient Care to Health and Social Care Professionals in 2001-2002. This change together with other changes of a less substantial nature have resulted in making direct comparisons over extended periods unreliable for these categories.
3Includes all management/administrative and clerical personnel. The Management/Administrative Category includes — staff who are of direct service to the public and include Consultant's Secretaries, Out-Patient Departmental Personnel, Medical Records Personnel, Telephonists and other staff who are engaged in front-line duties together with staff in the following categories Payroll, Human Resource Management (including training), Service Managers, IT Staff, General Management Support and Legislative and Information Requirements.
|
Orthodontists
|
1997
|
1998
|
2004
|
Increase 1997-2004
|
Increase 1998-2004
|
|
Consultant/Orthodontist
|
9
|
9
|
12
|
3
|
3
|
|
Specialist in Orthodontics
|
0
|
0
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
|
Total
|
9
|
9
|
37
|
28
|
28
|
