Dentist, Reading (Patient)

HC Deb 13 March 1961 vol 636 cc964-5

34. Mr. Chapman

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the case of a Reading dentist, details of which have been sent to him, who refused to treat an acute case because the person was coloured; and whether he will introduce regulations making this kind of discrimination illegal.

33. Mr. C. Royle

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a dentist in Reading who refused to treat a patient on grounds of colour; and what action he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of this.

Mr. Powell

I am informed that the dentist concerned authorised no such refusal and that this patient was treated.

Mr. Chapman

Is the Minister perfectly satisfied that all the stories about colour discrimination in this case were unfounded and that the newspaper was at fault in publishing them in the first place? If there is any shadow of doubt at all, will he give his own firm condemnation of such discrimination so that newspapers which publish such stories abroad will realise that very few of us support this kind of thing?

Mr. Powell

I am sure that that attitude is held in all parts of the House, and I can assure the hon. Member that I am satisfied that, as I said, this dentist authorised no such refusal.

Mr. Emery

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Chapman) did not do me the courtesy to inform me that this Question about my constituency was being put on the Order Paper? Does he realise that in this case there was a complete misunderstanding, that the patient who came for treatment did not notify this dentist that an appointment had been made for him, and that the dentist rightly suggested that the person would have to come for treatment because he already had an appointment? Does my right hon. Friend realise that the dentists of Reading do a superlative job for dental health?

Mr. Powell

I am satisfied that there is no question of this dentist refusing treatment on the ground of colour or any other, and that the treatment was given.