§ 3. Mr. Ifor Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate of the percentage of junior doctors on the staff of Welsh hospitals coming from overseas.
§ Mr. Barry Jones53 per cent. of junior doctors on the staff of Welsh hospitals at 30th September 1975 were born elsewhere than in the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.
§ Mr. DaviesIs my hon. Friend aware that, were it not for the services of these overseas doctors, services in Welsh hospitals would be at a critical stage? Is he further aware that a large number of students, especially sixth-form students, desire to qualify as doctors but are unable to gain admission to medical schools? Therefore, when the opportunity arises, will he give priority to the establishment of a second medical school in Wales to be located at Swansea, where excellent university and hospital facilities are avaliable?
§ Mr. JonesI do not underestimate the valuable contribution of doctors from overseas to the staffing of the National Health Service in Wales. I also recognise the close interest that my hon. Friend takes as Chairman of the Council of 6 University College, Swansea, which may have some bearing on his wanting a new health school at Swansea. Although I recognise his close interest in the possible location of a second school at Swansea, I can make no forecasts, but the present target of 4,100 entrants per year to medical schools by 1980 took into account a possible reduction in the flow of doctors from overseas.
§ Mr. HoosonDoes not the hon. Gentleman agree that, with over half the junior doctors in Welsh hospitals being from overseas—from areas many of which are grossly under-doctored—we in Wales and in the United Kingdom as a whole should be recruiting far more medical students, wherever they are to be trained? Is there not a pressing case for this from the world point of view and from our own?
§ Mr. JonesGiven the present constraints on public expenditure which the Government face, and given part of the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Davies) about the likely requirements for doctors by 1980, all I can say at this stage is that I can make no forecast. However, the second school, if ever there should be one, may be at Swansea.
§ Mr. KinnockWhile endorsing the views of the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) and those of my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Davies), may I ask whether my hon. Friend is aware that the figure he gave of 53 per cent. is probably the best rebuttal of those who, even in Wales, wish, by a mixture of parochialism and prejudice, to generate racial hatred in our community?
§ Mr. JonesI fully understand my hon. Friend's strong feelings. I do not underestimate the valuable contribution made by doctors from overseas to the staffing of our hospitals. As for figures, the figure for all doctors from overseas employed whole- or part-time in the hospital service is about 33 per cent.
§ Mr. D. E. ThomasIf the Government cannot now authorise a further medical school, will the Minister undertake to have early discussions with the Welsh National. School of Medicine about ways in which the training—particularly the training of doctors—can be spread geographically? I am thinking, for example, 7 of students taking a clinical year or two at Swansea or Bangor.
§ Mr. JonesThe Welsh National School of Medicine and the Government are in the closest contact with Ministers in the Welsh Office.
§ Sir Raymond GowerDoes the Government's examination of this subject show that we are not training enough home-produced doctors, or does it show that too many of our doctors are leaving this country after training?
§ Mr. JonesThat is a difficult question to answer immediately and perhaps I might correspond with the hon. Member. However, the present target of 4,100 entrants per year to medical schools by 1980 took into account the possible reduction in the flow of doctors from overseas.