§ MR. A, O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a poor woman expecting confinement frequently applies to one or other of the general hospitals in London for a doctor to attend her in her confinement, and that frequently in such a case a student is sent to attend who has little or no experience, or may even never have been in a case before, and that no intimation is in such case given to the patient that the person sent is not a fully qualified medical practitioner; and, whether the Medical Council have prohibited the employment by private practitioners of assistants who, although they have taken out a full course of midwifery training, have not taken out a degree in medicine, surgery, and midwifery?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. JESSE COLLINGS, Birmingham, Bordesley)The Home Secretary has no information on the subject. He will, however, communicate with the Medical Council and make all inquiries to ascertain the facts of the case.
§ MR. A. O'CONNORMay I ask the right honourable Gentleman if he will inquire at the same time whether there are not Members of the Council who are themselves medical officers attached to some of the hospitals from which these unqualified persons are sometimes sent out; and whether the Medical Council is in a position to enforce the same rules for all parties?
§ MR. COLLINGSFull inquiry will be made.