§ 23. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Health what review is being undertaken in his Department of the maximum number of patients permitted for a general practitioner in the National Health Service, with a view to the formulation of policy on this matter prior to the negotiations with the medical profession arising from the Pilkington Report.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe general medical services are constantly under review in consultation with the medical profession so that any need for improvement or modification may be revealed and dealt with as opportunities occur.
§ Mr. PavittDoes the Minister realise that it is impossible for a G.P. with a maximum list of 3,500 patients to give a high standard of medical care? That means that he has an average of 17,500 consultations a year. If he works 365 days and takes in Christmas day and holidays as well, this works out at more than fifty consultations a day. Is it not time that some bold initiative was taken by the Minister to couple the awards that the Pilkington Committee recommended with some improvements in general practice?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt is always important to try to achieve whatever improvements in general practice we can, and it may be that this matter of maximum lists could arise in the context of discussion in regard to distribution. I would remind the hon. Gentleman that he is going on the basis of the maximum list, whereas the average list is only about 2,282, which is the last figure available for average lists.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman go a little further and say that he himself or his representatives will raise the subject of the desirability of reducing doctors' lists when he discusses with the profession the distribution of the Central Pool?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt is a little early as yet to anticipate the trend of the discussions which we shall be having with the medical profession, but I will certainly bear in mind what the hon. Member has said.