HC Deb 09 February 1970 vol 795 cc902-3
32. Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to encourage the medical profession to accept the principle of cost-effectiveness when ordering treatment on the National Health Service.

Mr. Crossman

A doctor's first consideration must be to provide the treatment best suited to the patient's condition, but a variety of means is used to assist and encourage the profession to do this in the most economical way.

Mr. Cronin

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his Department spends very large sums of money on treatments which have no significant physical effect on the condition treated, often as a result of intensive promotional efforts by the commercial interests involved? Will he, therefore, seek the co-operation of the profession in taking some effective steps to correct this situation?

Mr. Crossman

Of course I will. If my hon. Friend will give me precise instances of the practices to which he refers, I will immediately have them investigated.

Mr. Doughty

Is it not much better left to the professional people as to how they carry out their professional duties?

Mr. Crossman

That is what my hon. Friend said—that he wanted the advice of the profession on how to deal with this matter.