§ 22. Mr. W. Griffithsasked the Minister of Health whether he will give an assurance that patients referred by general medical practitioners to hospital outpatients' departments for the purpose of obtaining an opinion of a doctor of consultant status, are not seen only by a junior doctor engaged upon his preregistration training.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt would not be appropriate for an out patient to be seen only by an unsupervised, provisionally registered house officer, and I have no evidence that this occurs. Some part of the investigation may properly be delegated to such junior staff under the consultant's responsibility.
§ Mr. GriffithsIs the Minister aware that my information is that this sometimes happens in certain hospitals to which my attention has been drawn? If I send to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the details that have been provided to me, will he look into the matter and have it investigated?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithYes, of course, I will look at any case that the hon. Member likes to put to me. The principle is, however, as I have stated it in answer to the Question.