HC Deb 14 February 1966 vol 724 cc906-7
15. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Minister of Health in view of the facts that people under-estimate the seriousness of their illness and that they do not visit their doctor regularly, if he will take steps to ensure that the public make use of the health services as much as they should in their own interest.

Mr. K. Robinson

I have no reason to believe that people generally fail to make use, as required, of the advice and treatment available to them under the National Health Service. I hope no one who is ill will hesitate to make proper use of these services.

Mr. Jenkins

Has my right hon. Friend noted a recent survey which suggests that for every person who exploits doctors there are at least a dozen who fail to visit a doctor when they should? If my right hon. Friend has not seen this survey, will he accept a copy of it if I send it to him?

Mr. Robinson

I shall be glad to receive any evidence which my hon. Friend cares to send me. Statistics indicate that people in this country consult their general practitioners on average about five times a year. This does not of itself suggest an under-use of the Service, but there is no doubt that some people who should see their doctors, for one reason or another refrain from doing so.

Mr. Wood

Has the right hon. Gentleman no information to give the House which would enable us to establish objectively whether people go too much, or too little, or just right?

Mr. Robinson

I think that it would be very difficult to establish that objectively, but I have sought from the profession itself evidence about workload and it has singularly little statistical evidence to offer on this.