§ 23. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Minister of Health if he has now assessed the reports of his Social Science Research Unit and of the local medical officer of health in regard to the Rotherham experimental health checks; and what advice he is giving to local health authorities who are considering offering similar periodic screening facilitiis for certain types of illness.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am awaiting these reports. Authorities considering this kind of action are advised first to discuss their proposal with my medical officers, who can explain the problems involved.
§ Mrs. ButlerIs my right hon. Friend aware that the public response to these schemes has been most enthusiastic and almost overwhelming, and that a number of medical officers of health are raring to go on with similar schemes if they get an enthusiastic response from the Department? Would he look at this with some urgency and try to get his reports collected as soon as possible?
§ Mr. RobinsonAs I have said before in this House, I am most interested in what is being done in Rotherham and elsewhere, but I am not satisfied on present evidence that this method of detecting disease should be recommended to local authorities generally. I have still to receive the report of the Rotherham Medical Officer of Health. The report of the Social Science Research Unit will, we hope, be completed very shortly.