HC Deb 22 October 1912 vol 42 cc1928-9
31. Mr. DEVLIN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that at a meeting of the members of the medical profession resident within the county borough of Dublin, held at the Royal College of Surgeons on 24th September, resolutions were adopted to the effect that the medical practitioners of Dublin were of the opinion that those gentlemen who accept office from friendly societies at terms which have been condemned as inadequate by over 95 per cent, of the medical practitioners of the city are endeavouring to obtain practice by unworthy means, and that all the licensing corporations in Dublin were requested to take official notice of such resolution; whether he is aware that, as the direct result of these resolutions, several doctors have resigned their positions as medical officers to approved societies, and that a number have given notice to terminate their contracts on 31st December, 1912; whether he is aware that the above resolutions were passed with the concurrence of some of the Irish representatives on the General Medical Council; and if, in the case of a medical practitioner being struck off the register, there is no appeal from the decision of the General Medical Council, will he undertake to see that steps are taken to amend the Act of 1858 in this respect?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I am aware of the resolutions passed at the meeting of the 24th September, which, however, related to the licensing corporations and not to the General Medical Council. I understand that the General Medical Council have always held what they could not deal with questions of remuneration, and in any case their decisions are open to review in the Courts.