Mr. CHAMBERLAIN(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether he is in a position to state what action the Government propose to take on the report of the post-graduate medical education committee?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Mr. Arthur Greenwood)In view of the public interest in this matter, I hope that the House will permit me to make a statement which exceeds the usual limits of a reply to a question.
The committee was appointed by my predecessor. He was as Minister of Health its chairman, and I succeeded him. The report will be in the hands of Members to-day. The proposal of the committee is that in order to remedy the most serious outstanding defect in the existing provision for the education in medicine of post-graduate students, a British post-graduate hospital and medical school should be established in London. The organisation of the British post-graduate hospital and medical school recommended by the committee consists of an existing public hospital, the Hammersmith Hospital, with 400 beds in modern wards, which on the 1st April became the property of the London County Council under the Local Government Act, 1929, a medical school in conjunction with the hospital; and a residential hostel on a site in central London.
The committee estimate that the financial provision required to establish and maintain the British post-graduate hospital and medical school, apart from the cost of the maintenance of the beds in the public hospital, which in their view should remain, as it is now, a charge on the ratepayer, will be as follows. First, a capital sum not exceeding £250,000 for building a medical school, which, together with the hospital, will form the main part of the new organisation and for providing educational equipment. Secondly, the sum necessary to maintain the medical 2169 school as a recognised school of the University of London. Thirdly, the capital cost of building the residential hostel.
The Government have accepted the recommendations of the Committee as to the organisation of the British postgraduate Hospital and Medical School. They are much impressed with the importance of securing without avoidable delay the advantages of a proper system of postgraduate medical education in London, not only from the domestic but also from the Imperial and from the international point of view. The Government will accordingly be prepared to contribute from public funds a maximum sum of £250,000 for building and equipping the Medical School as an integral part of the scheme recommended by the Committee; and to make provision for grants through the University of London towards the maintenance of the school on the lines already applied to comparable institutions of University rank.
The Government earnestly hope that they may secure the co-operation of the London County Council and of the University of London in the scheme as recommended by the Committee and they are entering into communication with those bodies on the subject. The Government understand that an appeal will shortly be made to the public for assistance in the establishment in London of a residential institution to be called "London House" for the use of students from the Dominions not, only in medicine but in other arts and sciences. It is also part of the proposed scheme that "London House" shall offer accommodation to a limited number of British students domiciled in Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to furnish collegiate association between them and students from the Dominions.
Such an institution would, in fact, secure the object aimed at by the Post-Graduate Medical Education Committee in recommending the provision of a hostel. The Government are in full sympathy with the movement and they look forward with full confidence to the success of the appeal when it is made as crowning a scheme to which the taxpayer, the ratepayer and the general public will be contributing their appropriate shares.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am sure the statement which the right hon. Gentleman has just made will give profound, satisfaction as soon as its full implications are appreciated, and, in congratulating him upon the final success, which I am sure he will agree is largely due to the very distinguished body of surgeons and physicians who constitute the committee, may I ask him whether the hospital which has been chosen is considered to have a sufficient number of beds for the purpose far which it is required, and, if not, whether there is room for extension in the future if it is considered desirable?
§ Mr. GREENWOODYes, Sir. The scheme envisaged by the committee makes provision for a larger number of beds than is now available at Hammersmith. The committee were unanimous in their choice of Hammersmith, and there is sufficient available ground for the extension of the number of beds to make the hospital effective.
§ Mr. MARLEYIn connection with London House, may I ask whether it is proposed that only Dominion students, not Colonial students, are to reside there and take this post-graduate course? There are post-graduate students from Africa taking a course in tropical medicine. Will they be able to use London House?
§ Mr. GREENWOODIf I am using the term "Dominion" narrowly, I am sorry. The hospital will be available for students from all parts of the British Commonwealth.
§ Miss RATHBONEWill adequate arrangements be made for the training of women students, and will residential provision be made for women students as-well as men students?
§ Mr. GREENWOODClearly, both women and men will be included in the scheme, but this is a scheme intended for post-graduates and not far ordinary students. It is to assist people who already possess qualifications.
§ Miss RATHBONEDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it likely that women students will be included among post-graduate students?
§ Mr. GREENWOODYes, certainly.
§ Mr. HAYCOCKMay I ask whether this post-graduate course will be open to medical Members of this House?