§ 35. Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of those National Health Service Hospitals, and their location, in which research into the causes of migraine is being carried out.
§ Mr. BraineClinical research and trials are in progress at the National Hospital, King's College Hospital and Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in London and at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital; basic research into the cause of migraine is for the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. RankinWhile that answer is welcome so far as it goes, does the hon. Gentleman realise that the great mass of the general practitioners can only provide symptomatic treatment for this affliction, and can he tell me what steps are being taken to evolve from the research that is now going on a curative treatment, and if this is being made widely known among the medical profession?
§ Mr. BraineThe Medical Research Council does not come within the sphere of my right hon. Friend's responsibility, and I cannot answer questions on that. Investigations into this affliction have been going on for a good many years. If anything is holding up research it is not lack of money but the lack of a positive lead. I cannot pronounce on what treatment a doctor can or cannot give. All I can say is that advice and treatment are available under the National Health Service from general practitioners and where necessary from general physicians and neurologists. Headache clinics are provided al the four hospitals I have already mentioned.
§ Dame Irene WardMay I ask my hon. Friend whether those carrying out these researches will be in contact with the Putney Migraine Clinic? Why is not some research being made into this matter in the north of England and on the North-East Coast? Birmingham is in the Midlands.
§ Mr. BraineI am confident that those engaged on this research, as one would expect in any kind of medical research, are in touch with what is going on at particular establishments.
§ Mr. RankinSince the hon. Gentleman indicated that money was not a difficulty in this case, will he try to extend the research which is going on in certain hospitals to more of the hospitals under the National Health Service by creating units for this purpose?
§ Mr. BraineThe hon. Gentleman is going rather wide of the Question, but I have no reason to believe that if any promising line developed the money or the facilities would be lacking. I am advised that the difficulty here is that there has been a lack of a positive lead for research workers to follow.