HC Deb 18 June 1975 vol 893 cc1383-5
12. Mr. Dempsey

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consult general practitioners with a view to studying ways of improving general practitioner/patient relations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Officers of my Department regularly discuss the general practitioner services with representatives of the profession. I believe that relationships between general practitioners and patients are generally very good, but if my hon. Friend has any particular difficulty in mind I shall be glad to look into the matter.

Mr. Dempsey

Is my hon. Friend aware that the relationship between the family doctor and the family has deteriorated in the past few years and that this is evidenced by the removal, at a stroke, of entire families from some doctors' lists? May I persuade my hon. Friend to take some initiative, involving all the relevant interests, to restore the meaning, purpose and value of the family doctor service to the family?

Mr. Hughes

I understand that there is a great deal of ill-feeling on the question of the removal by a doctor of particular families of patients from his list. but both doctors and patients have a long-standing right to make a change on their own account. If the doctor and the family do not get on, clearly it is better for a change to be made. I have from time to time expressed disappointment in individual cases where that has happened, but, because it happens in individual cases, it is wrong to draw a broad, sweeping conclusion that relationships between doctors and patients have generally deteriorated through the years.

Dr. Miller

Will my hon. Friend confirm that, notwithstanding some problems which are bound to occur from time to time between patient and doctor, in general terms the general practitioners in Scotland do a very good job, for which they should be commended? My hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey) spoke of a good patient/doctor relationship. Does the Minister agree that he should be thinking in terms of bringing the patient as well as the doctor into discussions? Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the best ways of achieving a good relationship is to make sure that the doctor practises from premises which are custom-built? Will he encourage doctors to work in health centres, he having provided the health centres for that purpose?

Mr. Hughes

Of course I commend the good work done by so many general practitioners in Scotland through the years. Where reasonable practitioner facilities can be made available in health centres I do everything I can to encourage that policy. Of course we want to bring the patients into consideration. The establishment of local health councils will do a lot to bring into being good relationships. Perhaps we in Scotland could do much more as individuals to raise particular difficult issues. The National Health Service Commissioner had 500 complaints from United Kingdom residents about the health service, but only 40 from Scotland. It would be comforting to think that this meant that the situation in Scotland was perfect. If people have complaints, I hope that they will bring them forward. If there are bad eggs in any part of society in Scotland we want them to be exposed.