HC Deb 23 November 1964 vol 702 cc883-4
8. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue fresh instructions to hospitals on the need to operate efficient appointments systems.

Mr. Robinson

I shall be sending a memorandum to hospital authorities in a few days' time asking them to look again at their out-patient services with particular reference to waiting time.

Mr. Shepherd

Will the Minister do something about the attitude which prevails in many hospitals where it seems the convenience of the medical profession is put before that of the patient? In particular, will he try to do something to upgrade the standard of the administrative workers in hospitals, which is essential for the good of the service?

Mr. Robinson

I think the hon. Gentleman knows that I have given a good deal of attention to this in the past, and he may be interested to know that in my first public speech as Minister of Health I laid particular stress on this problem. The memorandum which I am sending to hospital authorities will be accompanied by a report of a study of management problems in out-patient departments made by officers of my Department. It draws attention not only to the waiting between time of appointment and time seen by a doctor, but also between the date of referral and the date of appointment.

Mr. Lipton

Would it not also help if consultants were a little more punctual and attended on time at the start of their hospital out-patient clinics?

Mr. Robinson

This is one of the factors which would help. There are administrative problems involved, too.

Mr. Woodburn

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in some hospitals a good deal of this trouble arises from the existence of the part-time consultant and that some managers of hospitals declare that a great deal of it could be eliminated if there were a greater number of full-time consultants?

Mr. Robinson

That might be so, but I cannot accept that a part-time consultant should not be as punctual as a whole-time consultant.

Mr. Wood

Has the study to which the right hon. Gentleman refers been made public? If not, is it possible for copies to be placed in the Library?

Mr. Robinson

I will look into that. I do not think that it has been published, but if it can be published I will see that it is put in the Library.