HC Deb 21 April 1947 vol 436 cc700-2
Commander Galbraith

I beg to move, in page 28, line 16, at the end, to insert: (b) for requiring the Scottish Medical Practices Committee to survey each area or part of an area and to report on the number of medical practitioners necessary to provide an adequate service. These words require the Scottish Medical Practices Committee to make a survey of each area, or part of an area, and report on the number of practitioners required for the service. We feel that those about to enter the medical profession should have some knowledge of over-doctored and under-doctored areas, so that they might make their arrangements accordingly. It would not be fair that they should be required to go forward in complete uncertainty whether or not they would be able to practise in the areas in which they wish to practise. We think this is a reasonable Amendment, and hope that it will be accepted.

Mr. Thornton-Kemsley (Aberdeen and Kincardine, Western)

I beg to second the Amendment.

Mr. Buchanan

I regret I cannot see my way to accept this Amendment. In the general way, a vacancy arising in a particular district will be advertised in the medical Press. This question cannot be merely considered as one of the number of doctors in a particular area. An area may be under-doctored or over-doctored for other reasons, and the question of the health of the doctors in the district has to be considered. The actual numbers might be misleading in some cases. We take the view that the best way in which to make vacancies known is by advertisement in the professional journals and that to map out the district on actual numbers would not always be desirable. We have no power of direction of doctors and there are other considerations, such as age, which have to be taken into account.

8.15 p.m.

Commander Galbraith

Could the hon. Member deal with the point I made? The method which he has suggested gives no previous warning to a young man starting out in his profession. But such a student, perhaps in his fourth year, might have to make up his mind whether he is going abroad into the Colonial service, or to practise in, say, Argyllshire. The whole of his arrangements might be altered by the question of whether or not there was likely to be a vacancy in the area when he qualified.

Dr. Morgan (Rochdale)

But the medical profession is a well organised profession. The Scottish Medical Practices Committee would be in touch with the B.M.A., and all that the young man would have to do would be to consult with his tutors, and to keep in touch with the Scottish branch of the British Medical Association. An Amendment such as this is not necessary. Even now any doctor in the profession can find the number of doctors practising in a particular area.

Mr. Buchanan

I do not think the Amendment moved by the hon. and gallant Member for Pollok (Commander Galbraith) would achieve the purpose he desires. The young man of whom he spoke might be misled by information in regard to the areas. Populations are not static. In the county of Fife we may, and I hope in the next year of two we shall, have a huge influx of population. No good purpose would be served to say that at a particular date there were so many doctors in an area, when, within 12 months, those numbers may go all agley. It is much better for the young man, and for everyone, to continue with the present practice, and the Government will see that the young doctor knows the actual position not only in a particular area, but generally throughout Scotland. My right hon. Friend means to make his officials at all times accessible to the young doctor, who will have the exact picture of the country before him. We think this is better than arbitrarily publishing the numbers of doctors in different areas. It is better that the doctors through their organisation and individual doctors should have access to the people by actual interview with the officials, who can assist in placing them.

Commander Galbraith

What the Parliamentary Secretary is telling us his right hon. Friend intends to provide is exactly what we are asking in this Amendment.

Mr. Buchanan

No.

Commander Galbraith

It is entirely similar. It is achieving the purpose for which we have put this Amendment down and if the hon. Gentleman is giving us a firm assurance on that point—as I understand he is—I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Mr. Buchanan

I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and he says it is an assurance of how this is intended to work.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.