19. Mr. Bob Brownasked the Minister of Health what is the average size of the general practitioners list in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area; and how this compares with the figure for the South-East and for the rest of England.
§ Mr. Snow2,548, 2,417 and 2,468 respectively for doctors providing full general medical services at 1st October, 1966.
Mr. BrownDoes my hon. Friend accept that, irrespective of the comparison, there are many more chronic cases of chest complaints, and so forth, in this region, and that this makes the burden on general practitioners much heavier?
§ Mr. SnowI should like to consider that point. I will write to my hon. Friend about it. I can tell him, however, that in the area about which he is talking there are no designated areas—that is to say, there is no apparent overall shortage of doctors.