HC Deb 17 July 1973 vol 860 cc234-5
5. Sir D. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware of the shortage of health visitors in Huntingdonshire; and what steps are being taken to overcome this shortage.

Mr. Alison

I am aware of a temporary shortage. The county council is expected to cover this deficiency by September.

Sir D. Renton

While thanking my hon. Friend for that partially satisfactory reply, I ask him whether he is aware that in rural areas doctors can give treatment to far more patients with the help of health visitors than without them. What is the cause of the shortage which has persisted for most of this year? What specifically does my hon. Friend hope to do to overcome it?

Mr. Alison

There is a national shortage of practically every kind of professional women worker. I take fully the point made by my right hon. and learned Friend that the effectiveness of local doctors is immeasurably extended if they can work as part of a team, and this is part of the purpose of the National Health Service reorganisation. We have found that recruitment campaigns in the past have had the effect of substantially increasing the numbers coming forward and we shall be pressing on with this method very much in the future.