HC Deb 08 July 1975 vol 895 cc313-4
8. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she now has the figures showing the number of local health authorities which provide in-and out-patient facilities for vasectomy operations within the National Health Service; and if she will enumerate those which do not.

Dr. Owen

All but two of the 90 area health authorities provide facilities, although sometimes on a limited basis. Fifty-two do so wholly or in part through their family planning clinics. With permission, I will circulate in the Official Report details of those without any facilities and of those without facilities in their clinics for vasectomy.

Mr. Whitehead

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that as there are still a number of area health authorities which do not provide these services through out-patient clinics, there are serious waiting lists in many areas? What is the Department proposing to do about that?

Dr. Owen

Implementation has been delayed because of the need to negotiate a payment structure for this in hospital services with hospital consultants. We are currently doing this and I am hopeful that we shall be able to reach agreement. This should allow an expansion of the hospital-based family planning scheme for vasectomy operations.

Following is the information:

Following are the area health authorities without any facilities for vasectomy operations.

Following are the 38 area health authorities without facilities for vasectomy in family planning clinics at December 1974. Those marked with an asterisk did, however, provide vasectomy counselling services in clinics during the nine months ended 31st December 1974.