§ 36. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Health to what extent central records of National Registration numbers are being maintained; and what is the cost to public funds.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe question of what central records should be maintained of the identification numbers used in the National Health Service is under consideration.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonDoes that answer mean that the Minister still retains about 50 million index cards bearing the registration numbers of many people who are now dead? Is not the central index, for that reason, becoming more useless from day to day?
§ Mr. MacleodThe central index, which is at Southport, is still valuable, especially in view of the purge of doctors' lists which was recently carried out. There is under consideration at the moment between my Department and the Treasury what form it will take in the future, and whether it would be an alphabetical index or not.
§ Lieut-Colonel LiptonCould the Minister answer the last part of the Question? What is the cost to public funds of the maintenance of this organisation, which we thought had disappeared?
§ Mr. MacleodIt is estimated at £150,000 a year.
§ 37. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Health whether persons who have no record of their National Registration numbers suffer loss of entitlement to benefits under the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNo, Sir, but they may have difficulty in getting accepted for treatment. It is very much in people's own interests that they should record the number on their medical cards if it is not already there.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the Minister aware that his predecessor said in the House that patients may have difficulty in getting treatment under the Service if they do not give their numbers. What are those difficulties? Would the Minister please explain?
§ Mr. MacleodThe difficulties are, for example, because dental treatment is pivoted, both at the surgery and at the Dental Estimates Board at Eastbourne, on a system which involves requiring the numbers of patients. Treatment should not be held up because of that, but it is essential that some form of numbers should be obtained.