HC Deb 01 May 1941 vol 371 cc539-42
6. Miss Eleanor Rathbone

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the considerable number of fully qualified foreign doctors in this country, many of whom have been repeatedly tested as to their political reliability, yet are without employment, and some of them a charge on public funds, he will consider deferring arrangements for the bringing over of American doctors to this country until these doctors have been absorbed in the medical service?

Mr. E. Brown

No, Sir. The American doctors are needed mainly for service with the Forces, whilst alien doctors of the European nationalities covered by the Medical Practitioners (Temporary Registration) Order, 1941, are needed mainly for employment in civil hospitals and institutions. The employment of the two classes can therefore proceed concurrently.

Miss Rathbone

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that more efforts will be made to place these men, many of whom are fitted for employment in the Forces, at any rate in services where they would relieve 'the strain on the military hospitals?

Mr. Brown

Certainly. At the moment 100 have been found employment and notified to the General Medical Council for registration and another 150 are under consideration for employment.

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some of these doctors who are very highly trained are doing manual work in this country? Does he approve of that?

Mr. Brown

I want to get every suitable man employed in his own profession.

Mr. Hannah

Would not the soldiers have very much more confidence in American than in foreign doctors?

Mr. Brown

I do not want to draw any comparison. We want all the doctors we can get.

Sir Francis Fremantle

Is my right hon. Friend quite convinced that the Central Medical War Committee are doing all they can to get these people employed?

7.Miss Rathbone

asked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the case, of which particulars have been furnished him, of a doctor of German extraction, entitled to practise in this country and classified, after repeated inquiry, as a victim of Nazi oppression, who held a position in a hospital under the Ministry under a contract of service, was interned last June under the policy of general internment; was released in November; but has nevertheless failed to secure further employment, and has been refused payment of the unexpired five months' period of his contract which, for no fault of his own, he was unable to fulfil; and whether he will say what he is prepared to do about this man?

Mr. Brown

I am glad to say that, owing to a recent vacancy in the Emergency Medical Service, it has been possible to offer an appointment to this doctor at the same salary as he received before his internment.

Miss Rathbone

Is it not a fact that this appointment was only offered, though the case was drawn to the attention of the Ministry several months ago, after my Question appeared on the Order Paper?

Mr. Brown

No. I have received no communication from the hon. Lady, who wrote to my predecessor. What has been done was done on the merits of the case, and we have endeavoured to meet the needs of the country and to utilise the skill of this particular man. I wish that the hon. Lady was not so fond of making suggestions of this sort.

Miss Rathbone

Can the Minister give the date on which the appointment was offered? Was it not after my Question appeared on the Order Paper?

Mr. Brown

The offer was made at the end of April, and we have not heard yet whether the doctor has accepted it.

10. Mr. G. Strauss

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the appeal for 1,000 American doctors, he will make arrangements whereby the many hundred German, Austrian and Czech doctors in this country who are anxious to offer their professional services for the national war effort should be enabled to do so?

Mr. Brown

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Colonel Evans) on this subject yesterday.

Mr. Strauss

May we take it that friendly alien doctors in the Pioneer Corps will be given a chance to use their experience and knowledge in medical work, and also that the British Medical Association will not be allowed to stand in the way of their employment?

Mr. Brown

Certainly. I am not aware that there is any intention on the part of the British Medical Association of doing that. The Central Medical War Committee are doing their very best in this matter, and have the most hearty cooperation of the British Medical Association.

Mr. Strauss

Will the Minister answer the first part of my Supplementary Question about doctors serving in the Pioneer Corps?

Mr. Brown

I should like to have notice of that.

Sir F. Fremantle

Is not the hon. Member aware that the British Medical Association have nothing to do with this matter, and that it is a matter for the Central Medical War Committee?

Mr. Rhys Davies

Is it not possible that some of the American doctors may be of German, Austrian or Czech nationality?

Mr. Brown

That is not a matter for my consideration, but the hon. Member must understand that we are taking every constructive step we can to meet the medical and surgical needs both of the Forces and of the civilian population.