HC Deb 07 December 1939 vol 355 c798
79. Mr. Harvey

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that many medical specialists have been waiting for months at improvised research stations in the country, where their services have not yet been needed, arrangements can now be made for them to return, until required by some special emergency, to their former work in which their help is urgently required especially in university centres?

Mr. Elliot

As intimated in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Dr. Howitt) on 23rd November, I have agreed with a committee representing the medical profession upon a scheme which will enable specialists who are at present employed whole-time in the emergency medical service, to engage in other work in hospitals or elsewhere when not required for duty in that service. This arrangement extends to specialists at pathological laboratories included in the emergency hospital scheme.