§ 17. Dr. Summerskillasked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to encourage more family doctors to practise in the industrial areas of the North.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonSpecial allowances of £400 a year are payable to general practitioners providing full medical services in chronically under-doctored areas, of which many are in the North. Initial practices allowances are also available in all areas designated as needing more doctors. I am arranging for further publicity to be given to these provisions.
§ Dr. SummerskillWill my right hon. Friend also consider some increase in remuneration in respect of each patient on a doctor's list if that doctor is working in a designated under-doctored area?
§ Mr. RobinsonWe have approached the matter from a rather different standpoint. Under the new system of remuneration allowances of £400 are payable in respect of doctors practising in areas continuously designated for three years or more by the Medical Practices Committee. My hon. Friend may like to know that these areas currently include a number in Yorkshire—such as Barnsley, Kingston upon Hull, East, Middlesbrough, and Rotherham Rural District.