HC Deb 28 February 1956 vol 549 c1004
49. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Labour how doctors are selected for medical boards examining National Service recruits.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Appointments to National Service medical boards are made on the recommendation of a regional medical officer of the Ministry of Health, or Department of Health for Scotland, after consultation with the local medical committee appointed under the National Health Acts. No precise qualifications are laid down, but a minimum of ten years' professional experience is expected, and the majority of practitioners appointed in recent years have had Service experience

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Although the right hon. Gentleman admits to only three mistakes in ten thousand—many of us think that there are more than that—why are so many "crocks" passed fighting fit? [An HON. MEMBER: "The hon. and gallant Gentleman?"] Is it not time that the doctors who are guilty of such glaring mistakes were examined?

Mr. Macleod

Hon. Members should remember that it is only the failures of the boards that hon. Members see and which are discussed on the floor of the House. So long as we have the twin requirements which I have indicated, ten years' experience plus, in the most recent cases, Service experience, that is as high a standard as we can reasonably expect for medical officers on the boards.