HL Deb 13 December 1961 vol 236 cc318-21

2.37 p.m.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Health are aware of the work being done at the Putney Migraine Clinic at the Putney Health Centre and the Wendy Leyton Memorial Migraine Prevention Centre in Harley Street for patients suffering from migraine and whether the development of special modern treatment for migraine on lines similar to that carried out in the said clinics or otherwise is contemplated within the Health Service.]

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, the work done at these clinics is known to my right honourable friend's Department. The methods used have been published, and it is open to any doctor in the National Health Service to adopt these or any other forms of treatment which he considers appropriate for migraine.

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, is this not a most extraordinary thing? So far as we are aware, this clinic does nothing that is not done by other doctors throughout the country. Are we to have clinics for every disease under the sun simply because somebody happens to be particularly interested in them? Is not the work done there all common knowledge?

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, before my noble friend replies, may I ask this question? Whereas it is within my knowledge, though happily not for myself personally, that certain people who have suffered from this most disabling disease have had it alleviated, these methods of treatment are not generally known and are certainly not generally available. Will the Ministry of Health inquire whether these treatments, or indeed other treatments which will help to cure this disease, cannot be made more widely available?

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, I must make clear that my right honourable friend has no responsibility for assessing treatments or advising doctors how to apply them. It is for doctors themselves to judge the validity of claims made for any particular forms of treatment. But I have heard with interest the views of the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, who is a doctor, and the views of my noble friend.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, would not the right thing he for Doctor Leyton (I think he is called) to publish a series of cases treated by him and controls, with a certain amount of follow-up for a period of years, so that the medical profession could themselves judge what is the value of these treatments, rather than that there should be any question of indulging in some kind of trials? Doctor Leyton has the power there. Would not that be the right thing to do?

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, I can, of course, speak only as a layman. Again, the noble Lord, Lord Amulree, is a member of the profession, and on the face of it that is a sound and very wise suggestion.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, would not the noble Lord say that the only difference between these clinics and the hospitals is that these clinics take every opportunity to advertise themselves, whereas the hospitals would not descend to these methods?

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is aware that many of us, myself included, looked upon migraine as "just one of those things," possibly even a malingering disease, whereas those of us who have come into contact with these cases must now know that it is in its severest form very, very crippling, and in its mildest form widespread in its effect? Extremely little is known about it and very little has been done about it, and, whether Dr. Leyton is right or wrong, or the best or nor the best, he at least has done something, whereas most people have done nothing. Is it not therefore a good thing that trig Ministry should look into this mailer and see whether what is good can he; brought to people's help?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, again with due respect, that is not true. An immense amount has been done about the study of migraine, an immense amount is known about the reactions of drugs on migraine, and every general practitioner and every specialist knows certainly as much as is known in these clinics.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

That is in question.

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, if a family doctor or a specialist considers that the clinic is the best way to organise treatment, that can be arranged. There are headache clinics at three London hospitals and one at the Midland Eye Hospital, Birmingham. I understand that the College of General Practitioners have recently formed a research group to investigate the prevalence and incidence of migraine, and the group have also studied methods of treatment.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me whether the medical profession know how to cure migraine or not?

LORD NEWTON

That is not a question for me, my Lords.