§ 5. Mr. Godberasked the Minister of Health whether he has considered a letter from the Sleaford Medical Group dated 14th September; what reply he has sent; and what action he proposes to take to deal with the matters outlined in that letter.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Kenneth Robinson)I have sent the right hon. Member a copy of my reply, from which he will have seen that the situation in Sleaford calls for no special action on my part.
§ Mr. GodberWhile thanking the Minister for the courtesy of sending me a copy of his reply, may I ask him whether he does not agree that the letter which he received reflects a genuine concern which runs through the National Health Service generally in regard to doctors' lists? Will he not consider this perhaps on a more general basis?
§ Mr. RobinsonI agree that the letter reflected concern, but I do not think that the concern was justified, because the average list for doctors in the Sleaford Medical Group is only about 1,800 compared with the national average of over 2,400.
§ Mr. GodberI understand that one member of this group had been ill for some time and that another had applied for another post, which makes the position look rather different.
§ Mr. RobinsonIf there is a change in circumstances which alters the position, I will certainly look at it again.