Sixth report from the Select Committee on Estimates : together with the minutes of evidence taken before sub-committee D and appendices, session 1956-1957: Running costs of hospitals.

Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Estimates

Date:: [1957]

Credit: Sixth report from the Select Committee on Estimates : together with the minutes of evidence taken before sub-committee D and appendices, session 1956-1957: Running costs of hospitals. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$Appendix A shows the extent to which the service has grown both in the number of consultations and cost. It has almost doubled in the 6 years under consideration. One would expect the largest volume to be in the major specialties of General Medicine, General Surgery, Gynaecology and Orthopaedics but there are certain others which do seem inordinately high, e.g. Dermatology, Ophthalmology and Radiology. It is difficult to explain the rise in Dermatology which is almost greater than in any other specialty except Radiology ; it is more than double. The Ophthalmological cases are very largely eye testing in old people. Radiological cases are mainy fractures and chests ; many of the latter would seem to be unnecessary. Domiciliary requirements in Psychiatry have grown out of all proportion since whole time specialists have been paid; this is shown particularly in Appendix B. This Board was careful to lay down a procedure for Geriatricians from the inception of the service and domiciliary visits have normally been regarded as part of their duties; for this reason the number of domiciliary consultations has not grown to quite the same extent as _ elsewhere. Pathology, in the same way, has not shown any increase as pathologists are not entitled to payment if the visit is solely for the object of collecting specimens.” Appendix A ANALYSIS BY SPECIALTIES OF DOMICILIARY VISITS IN THE YEARS 1951-52 To 1956-57 INCLUSIVE 1.4.51 14.52 | TA4AS3 | 14.54.) 14355 1.4.56 Financial years to to to to to to 31352 | 313858 931.3.54-) 813.55-193K5:56 49 91-3397 General Medicine 4,327 5,203 5,520 5,087 6,397 7,126 General Surgery ... 2,765 2,968 3,382 3,460 S91 4,109 Anaesthetics 54 45 61 70 71 62 Cardiology 988 747 503 500 451 502 Chest Diseases 135 36 34 95 iss 655 Dental Surgery 10 ‘4 12 12 8 16 Dermatology 490 641 728 834 969 938 BMD CGS. A 760 766 702 666 707 741 Geriatrics . 53 27 33 1 7 218 Infectious Diseases 5 6 4 | 17 1 6 Neurology... 309 216 382 333 305 360 Neurosurgery ad ] 9 5 6 41 4 Obstetrics and Gynaecology 714 724 939 884 978 1,335 Ophthalmology aa 650 617 655 714 700 796 Orthopaedic sree oan 667 926 899 1,105 1,463 Paediatrics ; 573 lad 826 Ti2 868 1,049 Pathology .. 668 528 547 714 761 576 Physical Medicine — 111 134 197 291 27 297 Plastic Surgery... 2 1 3 1 1 — Psychological Medicine . 409 444 531 643 841 1,743 Radiology.. ae 391 614 760 1,120 1,334 15295 Radio therapy 51 22 55 30 121 88 Thoracic Surgery... — 4 2 12 16 13 Urology 96 84 111 81 84 101 V.D. 1 1 — — 8 7 Totals é ... | 14,091 | 15,233 | 16,863 | 17,262 | 19,901 23,500 Cost . £56,379 £67,987 £72,802 £79,314 £95,403 £100,000* oe * This figure is an estimate only.$