§ 4. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek a report from the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board on its policy towards an independently-chaired inquiry into private practice in its area.
§ Sir K. JosephNo, Sir; I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 26th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 293-4.]
§ Mr. HuckfieldIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is the regional hospital board which has had the police attending its meetings, which has had its most active member dismissed and which has been reprimanded for conducting illegal private practice at Walsgrave Hospital? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that without this inquiry. which would be into quite specific and definite accusations and has been promised to a Select Committee of this House, nobody in the Midlands can ever have any more confidence in the activities of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board?
§ Sir K. JosephI do not think that the hon. Gentleman does any service to the public in the Midlands by seeking to attack the integrity of a board which is seeking to do its public duty properly. There is no case, as it seems to me, for any intervention by a Minister. The board has taken legal advice and has come to the decision of which the hon. Gentleman is aware.
§ Mr. William PriceIs it not a fact that the Birmingham Regional Hospital 808 Board promised an independent inquiry and then used as its excuse for calling it off the fact that two barristers declined to conduct it? Does the right hon. Gentleman regard that as a satisfactory reason for doing so when 60,000 people are waiting for admission?
§ Sir K. JosephI have already said that I am willing to look into any case which a regional hospital board cannot examine where there is evidence to support an allegation. I have not been sent that evidence and, therefore, I am content to rest on the decision of the regional hospital board.