HC Deb 02 November 1939 vol 352 cc2103-4
71. Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction among members of the medical profession arising from the fact that many medical men making application for commissions in the Services have been referred to a voluntary organisation of medical men to which they do not belong and to which they have no desire to make application; and whether he will consider consultation with the Medical Practitioners' Union in order that their views can be presented side by side with that of the British Medical Association?

Mr. Elliot

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on this subject on 26th October. I have no reason to believe that the medical profession in general is dissatisfied with the arrangements made by the Central Medical War Committee for the supply of doctors to the Forces.

Mr. Groves

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that minorities have rights and should not the Medical Practitioners Union be consulted?

Mr. Elliot

The hon. Member, who is acquainted with all these problems of organisation, knows that in some circumstances one must take a central organisation as, at any rate, the commencement of steps for consulting a profession or any other body of persons.

Mr. Groves

If this is only a beginning, I am satisfied.

Sir Francis Fremantle

Is it not a fact that the central organisation is not the British Medical Association but the Civil War Medical Committee, which includes others besides the British Medical Association?

Mr. Elliot

That is so.

Viscountess Astor

Surely it ought to include osteopaths.