§ 4. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service maternity hospitals and departments give family planning advice to all mothers before or after childbirth as a matter of routine; and what proportion of the total of such hospitals and departments this represents.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Dr. John Dunwoody)A complete picture is not centrally available. However, I can say that my right hon. Friend is not content with the situation as he finds it in many parts of the country, and last week issued new guidance in a letter to hospital boards and teaching hospitals. He asked 894 them to review arrangements for providing family planning advice in their hospitals and to let him know what developments they propose so that an effective service is available to all women patients. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mrs. ShortI am much obliged to my hon. Friend. I would be glad if he would thank his right hon. Friend for the response he has made to this request, which I made to him some time ago. Will he bear in mind that if this is properly done in National Health Service hospitals there will be opportunity for research into satisfactory methods of contraception to be carried out and this can play a great part in relieving women of anxiety and unwanted pregnancies?
§ Dr. DunwoodyI am much obliged to my hon. Friend. I agree with the point she made about research. I am sure that hospitals can make a further contribution to family planning advice by providing a service to their patients.