HC Deb 08 May 1967 vol 746 cc1035-7
41. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of his undertaking to receive Members of Parliament on request, he will receive the deputation on the establishment of a mobile physiotherapist unit in the north of England led by the hon. Member for Tynemouth.

Mr. Snow

No, Sir. This matter has already been fully discussed in this House and elsewhere.

Dame Irene Ward

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in all the years I have been in the House of Commons, Ministers have never refused to receive deputations? Is he aware that nearly all the statements of fact which he made in the Adjournment debate were incorrect? What steps do I have to take to inform him so that he can have a correct view of what he is talking about?

Mr. Snow

I am a little surprised by the hon. Lady's observations about the facts which I gave in the Adjournment debate. As I said last week, it would give me great pleasure to see the hon. Lady in my office, or in the House, as she likes.

Mr. Speaker

Dame Irene Ward, Question 42.

Dame Irene Ward

Question No. 42, with regret.

Mr. Snow

That was not a very gallant observation.

42. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the fact that the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists would welcome the establishment of mobile physiotherapist units under defined conditions, he will follow the usual practice with professional bodies, when their interests are involved, of consulting the Society with a view to resolving the problems the present controversy presents.

Mr. Snow

I will, of course, give careful consideration to any proposals which may be sent to me, but I am bound to remind the hon. Member that my right hon. Friend is advised that, to obtain maximum benefit for the patient, physiotherapy should be carried out under medical supervision backed by the full facilities of a hospital physiotherapy department.

Dame Irene Ward

Would not the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend be a little more accurate in what they say about physiotherapists if they had the advice of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists? Why do they not seek the Society's advice when they would not dream of doing anything without consulting the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons? What objection is there to getting proper information from the accredited professional association?

Mr. Snow

The area of consultation—

Dame Irene Ward

Not area.

Mr. Snow

If the hon. Lady will desist from these therapeutic outbursts of noise, I will try to answer the question. The area of consultation in all medical matters is very wide, but my right hon. Friend and I find it very difficult to consult the Society about the proposals which we have not received.

Mr. Braine

This is not good enough. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is an acute shortage of physiotherapists? Is he aware that mobile schemes could make use of married women physiotherapists who are not available to the hospital service and that in the long run this would make for a much more efficient use of resources and better service for the patient?

Mr. Snow

The hon. Gentleman, who is an assiduous reader, should read last week's Adjournment debate.