HC Deb 22 January 1953 vol 510 c390
26. Mr. G. Williams

asked the Minister of Health if he will arrange for doctors at child welfare clinics to give prescriptions which can be exchanged for medicine under the National Health Service.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

No, Sir. It is for the family doctor to issue any necessary prescriptions.

Mr. Williams

Would not the Minister agree that it would save a tremendous amount of the time of patients if my suggestion were adopted and also save a good deal of trouble to the Health Service? Will she consider the question again?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

I must point out to my hon. Friend that the maternity and child welfare clinics exist to give advice and not medical treatment. There would be a very real danger if patients were able to get treatment in the clinics when they might also get treatment from their own doctors. That would only create confusion and might be dangerous.