HC Deb 11 December 1961 vol 651 cc23-4
31. Mrs. Slater

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the cost to the National Health Service of the employment of radiographers supplied by a private company as against their direct employment by his Department.

Miss Pitt

I regret no useful estimate can be made.

Mrs. Slater

Does not the hon. Lady think that this is a positively disgusting situation? We have just been told that we cannot afford to reduce the price of welfare foods, but here a private company has been set up to employ radiographers who are at present employed by the National Health Service, who leave the National Health Service and go to the private company and there get more salary than they had previously, at an added cost, one supposes, to the Ministry of Health? How ridiculous is this situation? Apparently, we cannot afford to give children the food supplements that they require but we can afford to "feed" private profits in this way.

Miss Pitt

There is a shortage of radiographers, but it is a diminishing problem. The number of radiographers who qualified in 1960 was 436 compared with 359 in 1959—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer the question."]—and the number who commenced training in that year rose from 594 to 727. The larger numbers now being trained should mean that there will be more radiographers in the Service in the years ahead and that there will be no need to employ outside people.

Mrs. Slater

That does not answer my supplementary question I did not ask how many people had been trained this year I asked a simple, logical question whether it was reasonable to allow a private company to supply radiographers to the National Health Service at a higher salary than the Ministry is prepared to pay them? That is my question, and it is to that that I want an answer.

Miss Pitt

It may be reasonable as a temporary measure when there is pressure or need.

Mr. K. Robinson

Would not the hon. Lady agree that it is wrong that a hospital authority should be forced to go outside the National Health Service to a private company to get radiographers? Does not the hon. Lady appreciate that unless the Ministry does something about this, it will lead to a vicious circle because more and more radiographers will leave the hospital service and go to private firms which can pay them more?

Miss Pitt

It is essential to the Service that a radiographer should be available, and while there is a shortage, I see no reason why hospitals should not employ an outside service, provided that it is a temporary measure.