HC Deb 06 March 1941 vol 369 cc1009-10
38. Professor A. V. Hill

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware: that an offer has been received from the Rockefeller Foundation in New York to undertake and provide for the clinical training and maintenance of selected British medical students in a number of medical schools in the United States of America and Canada; and whether he will arrange for all facilities and encouragement to be given for carrying out the scheme

Mr. E. Brown

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the offer, and I desire to express my very sincere appreciation of this sign of practical help and sympathy on the part of the Foundation and of the Medical Schools in America. I will certainly do all I can to further this scheme. I understand that a committee has been set up in this country under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor of Manchester University to select the students; that the first group will leave for America as soon as possible; and that the General Medical Council, the licensing bodies and the universities are all in agreement on the advantages of the scheme. I am sure that when the students return to this country their experience will be of great value, and I hope that this plan may further strengthen the close co-operation in medicine and public health between Great Britain, the United States and Canada.

Sir Francis Fremantle

Does the right hon. Gentleman recognise that some of the best students will be rather reluctant to leave this country and go to a safer country during the war? At the same time it is necessary that they should avail themselves of this opportunity, so will he do all he can to encourage them to avail themselves of it as a national duty?

Mr. Brown

We understand very well that these young men will have those feelings, but they can be assured that by going and continuing their clinical training there they will be undertaking the best form of national service.

Mr. Maxton

What are the advantages of shipping medical students across the Atlantic when our own medical schools are not fully utilised at the moment?

Mr. Brown

If the hon. Member will put that Question down, I will give a detailed answer.

Mr. Maxton

The right hon. Gentleman says he appreciates the advantages of this scheme. I am simply asking what are the advantages of an American medical training?

Mr. Brown

Perhaps the hon. Member has overlooked the fact that conditions are not quite the same in America as here.