§ 17. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute an inquiry with appropriate professional 13 representation into the purpose of the large number of tonsillectomy operations performed on children in Great Britain.
§ Mr. CrossmanI am arranging a meeting to consider this in association with the Medical Research Council.
§ Mr. CroninI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply, but will he bear in mind that this operation is sometimes performed 20 times more frequently in some areas than in others and that a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the operation might save much unnecessary suffering and occasional deaths?
§ Mr. CrossmanI have a good deal of sympathy with my hon. Friend on this matter. I reckon that £3 million a year is spent on these operations. There is a profound difference of opinion in the medical profession about their value. The last research came to no agreement. I am hoping to get more success with the second round of investigation.