HC Deb 20 March 1967 vol 743 cc1031-2
23. Dr. John Dunwoody

asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in the provision of open access for family doctors to hospital pathology, X-ray and physiotherapy services.

39. Mr. Cronin

asked the Minister of Health what is his present policy with regard to the availability of hospital pathology, X-ray and physiotherapy services to doctors other than those employed in the hospital concerned.

Mr. K. Robinson

Almost all hospital management committees in England and Wales—apart from purely psychiatric groups—provide open access to pathology and X-ray services in at least one hospital. I am advised that physiotherapy should normally be prescribed by a consultant, but urgent cases may be accepted at the request of a general practitioner at the consultant's discretion.

Dr. Dunwoody

While welcoming my right hon. Friend's Answer, may I ask him to speed up this process, because these services reduce pressure on outpatient departments? Would he look again at the question of out-patient physiotherapy, because there are many doctors who believe that much of the simple treatment is far more effectively ordered by the family doctor than through out-patient departments and the consultant service?

Mr. Robinson

I will certainly look again at the point raised by my hon. Friend. On the more general issue, I am sure that he will be glad to know that in 1958 5.6 per cent. of the total work done by pathology departments was for general practitioners. By 1965 this figure had risen to 8.8 per cent.

Mr. Cronin

Do not the figures my right hon. Friend has given show that the facilities available are still inadequate? Will he bear in mind that general practice is a highly technical exercise these days and that therefore it would greatly improve the efficiency of general practitioners if they had at their disposal other instruments than merely their fingers and their fountain pens?

Mr. Robinson

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I should like to see a further expansion of this service, but I wanted to emphasise that it is expanding at a not unsatisfactory rate.