§ 8. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health if he will call for a return from the health executive councils showing the numbers of general practitioners over the age of 70 years who are in practice under the National Health Service; and whether he will draw the attention of health executive councils to their responsibility to secure a proper standard of general practitioner service in their areas.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not think either of these courses necessary.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIs it not time this issue was investigated? Is it not the case that hospitals, very properly, have a definite retiring age subject to exemptions in certain cases? Ought there not to be some consideration of retirement in the case of practitioners who are supposedly attending patients although they may be over 80 years of age. Is it not high time the matter was looked into?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAny age bar would be an arbitrary decision, because it is extremely difficult to specify an age which is generally applicable to all individuals. Some people are more alert and active at 80 than others are at 50. If a doctor is continually absent from his practice or if the evidence about his mental or physical disabilities is such that it is considered that he is not capable of carrying out the duties of his contract, an executive council has power to recommend to the Minister that he should not continue in the Health Service. Also patients who are not satisfied with the treatment that they are receiving are perfectly free to change their doctor.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopDoes not the hon. Lady recognise that hospitals find it practicable to establish a retiring age and there is no complaint about that? Why cannot this at any rate be considered in the case of general practice?