HC Deb 23 April 1956 vol 551 c1448
39. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue amended regulations requiring full-time consultants to give regional hospital boards six months' notice of their intention to retire from the hospital service.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

My right hon. Friend does not think it would be appropriate to deal with this by regulations.

Mr. Robinson

Is the Minister aware that under the present three-month rule it is inevitable that important jobs like that of medical superintendent remain vacant owing to the length of time it takes to appoint a new consultant? Surely it is not unreasonable to ask a full-time consultant to give six months' notice of his intention to retire from the service. However she looks at the situation, would she ask her right hon. Friend to give serious consideration to this matter?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

Any such alteration would require the agreement of the Medical Whitley Council. It cuts both ways; one may make an appointment and, under the hon. Member's suggestion, have to wait for six months before the person concerned is released from his previous employment. I do not think that the three months' period is unreasonable.

Mr. Robinson

On a point of order. I referred only to when a consultant retires from the service, and that would not operate both ways.

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order.