§ 25. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Medical Practices' Committee have now supplied him with lists of those areas which are most in need of additional doctors.
Mr. McNeilLists were appended to a report of the Scottish Medical Practices Committee when it was published in the medical Press last January. The Comittee have the position under review and I expect to receive a further report in the autumn.
§ Mr. RankinWould my right hon. Friend consider approaching the Committee in order to add to these lists those areas which are over-doctored and those which are not adequately doctored?
Mr. McNeilI think that would mean listing every area in Scotland, and that that would be an unnecessary work. The areas where we have any over-doctoring, or have more than sufficient numbers of doctors, are already well known, and I do not think that we could add to our information on the subject by following my hon. Friend's suggestion.
§ 26. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made towards reducing the maximum number of patients on a doctor's list, from 4,000 to 3,800.
Mr. McNeilWhile the number of doctors with excessive lists is being steadily reduced I do not think I should yet be justified in lowering the prescribed maximum number of patients.