§ 24. Mr. Barterasked the Minister of Health the average number of patients on doctors' lists in July, 1952, and July, 1957.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe number was 2,436 in July, 1952; I regret that the figure for July, 1957 is not yet available but in July, 1956, it was 2,272.
§ Mr. BarterCan my right hon. and learned Friend say whether this reduction in the average list indicates a better distribution of doctors?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithYes, Sir. I think it clearly does so; in fact, the trend has been for a smaller number of patients per doctor's list every year since 1952.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes not the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that some lists are very small and that this high average must mean that some lists are very much higher than the figure he gave? Is not 2,272 a sufficient number of patients for any doctor?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe hon. Gentleman, with all his expert knowledge of this subject, will appreciate that doctors' lists are inevitably a little inflated because of the delay in removing the names of patients who die, leave the district and so on. Although these are the statistical figures, I think he can take it that the real average is a bit below what the figures suggest.