§ 41. Mr. Godman Irvineasked the Minister of Health what steps he now proposes to take to ensure that a locum is provided when needed, as in the case of a general practitioner's sudden illness.
§ Mr. BraineThis is the contractual responsibility of the general practitioner.
§ Mr. Godman IrvineWould not my hon. Friend agree that this can cause great hardship to a single-handed practitioner? Will he not further agree that it places a heavy burden on the practitioner's wife, who is worried not only about her husband's illness but also about the possibility of finding a suitable locum and whether the locum will remain throughout her husband's illness? Does not he agree that in these cases responsibility should be taken by the executive councils?
§ Mr. BraineNo, Sir. There may be particular cases, and if my hon. Friend will let me have details I will look into them. However, this is a matter for the profession itself, and existing agencies are available to assist practitioners in finding locums, notably the B.M.A. Bureau.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonWould not the Parliamentary Secretary agree that this is a problem to which the happiest solution, where practicable, is the establishment of group practices?
§ Mr. BraineThere may be something in what the hon. Members says.