HC Deb 09 May 1960 vol 623 cc13-5
6. Mr. W. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the National Health Service patients of some general medical practitioners in Manchester, having been referred to certain consultants, are not seen by these consultants but by a registrar; and what steps are taken to ensure that all consultants attend regularly and promptly the sessions at the hospital in accordance with their contracts.

Miss Pitt

If the hon. Member will give me details of what he has in mind, I will have inquiries made.

Mr. Griffiths

Is the hon. Lady aware that these complaints originate not from me but from members of the medical profession in Manchester, and from patients? Is she further aware that I sent her Department copies of specific allegations made by a general practitioner—a family doctor—who said: I am sick and tired of getting hospital reports back signed by the hospital registrar p.p. the consultant. It is not the registrar's opinion I want, it is the consultant's. These are the sort of complaints we are getting, reinforced by many letters from patients who, after attending a number of times at the out-patients' department, suddenly discover, sometimes by accident, that they are being seen not by the consultant they imagined they were seeing but by the registrar—and sometimes even by a house man.

Miss Pitt

I have seen a newspaper cutting which contains that statement, but I do not think I have seen any official letter from the hon. Member with details amplifying such a statement. If he has such details, I shall be glad to look into them. In any case, it is for the consultant to arrange how his own clinic should be held.

Dr. Summerskill

In the event of a consultant not attending a clinic, is a deduction made in his remuneration?

Miss Pitt

Not to my knowledge, but I should like notice of that question.

7. Mr. W. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Health how many patients, during 1959, were admitted to beds at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, St. Mary's Hospital, and the Royal Eye Hospital, after private consultation with members of the medical staffs; and what was the average time that these patients had been on the waiting list.

Miss Pitt

I regret that this information could not be made available without a disproportionate amount of work by the hospital authorities.

Mr. Griffiths

Surely it is worth making an effort to find out where the truth lies in matters of this kind? Again, the cuttings from newspaper articles, readbyavast numberof people in Manchester, have been made available to the Ministry. This publication has been followed by a vast volume of correspondence. Surely the Minister can make the effort to find out where the truth lies, removing a smear from the consultants, if a smear lies against them, or remedying the complaints of patients, if they are firmly based?

Miss Pitt

I hope that this question and answer may remove the smear to which the hon. Gentleman refers, because I am informed by the board of governors that in all cases patients who have been sent privately are put on the same waiting list as other patients and that their admission is determined by the relative urgency of the case. The fact that I am unable to give details without a disproportionate amount of work shows that all these people are mixed up with National Health Service patients, and without going through records of individual hospitals we could not say which patients were private and which came under the National Health Service.

Mr. Griffiths

It will be of help to us all if I give notice that I will raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.