§ 37. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Health if he has studied details which have been sent him about the position of doctors' wives under the Health Act; and if he will make a statement.
§ 71. Mr. Cuthbertasked the Minister of Health what answer he has given to the request by the League of the Doctors' Wives, asking him to postpone the introduction of the National Health Act, until he has the necessary buildings, equipment and trained personnel, to carry out his comprehensive Health Service.
§ 73. Sir John Mellorasked the Minister of Health if he will provide assistance for those doctors for whom, and for whose households, the National Health Service will cause increased secretarial work, telephone attendance and aggravated domestic disturbance; and whether he has considered representations from the League of Doctors' Wives in this matter.
§ Mr. BevanAs I have told those concerned, I think there is a tendency to overestimate the effect of the new service upon the position of doctors' wives. In any case I do not believe that they, on reflection, would wish to deprive the rest of the community of the benefits of the scheme by postponing the appointed day.
§ Major Legge-BourkeDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that doctors' wives who have no domestic help may find that the new Health Service will bear hardly upon them? If so, will he take action with the Minister of Labour to try to ease their domestic situation?
§ Mr. BevanIf it is found that extra work is thrown upon doctors' wives, and that they find it burdensome, we shall consider what help we can give in the provision of domestic service. But I would remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman, and Members in all parts of the House, that there are other wives with onerous burdens as well as doctors' wives.