§ 9. Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compile a register of clinics dealing with infertility, together with their charges.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg)I am not aware of the need for such a register.
§ Miss LestorIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the geographical maldistribution of these facilities means that unless a couple have a very sympathetic doctor they are unlikely to know where they can get advice about fertility? Is he aware that many people are pressing for some centralisation of such facilities so that obtaining knowledge of them is not left to the whim of their doctors?
§ Mr. FinsbergI am not aware of the hon. Lady's latter point. There is no evidence of it in my Department. In 1979, 18,000 women and 700 men received NHS inpatient treatment for infertility in NHS hospitals. In 1978, 5,500 women and 300 men were treated. The number treated is clearly increasing. At the moment, therefore, I see no need for the centralisation that the hon. Lady mentions.
§ Mr. PavittDoes the Minster recognise the unevenness of the NHS service, which should be available to all? Will he therefore make a special study, through all the regional health authorities, and present the House with some figures to show that no matter where one lives the NHS is available to all?
§ Mr. FinsbergI shall examine the hon. Gentleman's point. From the information at my disposal I understand that treatment is available at a substantial number of NHS centres.