§ 2.43 p.m.
§ LORD FERRIERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is a fact that chiropractic practitioners provide X-ray records of their patients to the National Health Service on request but that the latter are refusing to reciprocate. necessitating additional radiation to the patient.
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I have no information about the provision by chiropractic practitioners of X-ray records to the National Health Service. In any case, I would not expect National Health Service doctors to reciprocate because X-rays are part of the medical records of the patient and doctors. and if they knowingly enable or assist a person not a duly qualified and registered medical practitioner to practise medicine or to treat patients, they may he liable to disciplinary proceedings before the General Medical Council.
§ LORD FERRIERMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply, may I further ask whether or not he agrees that the time has come for chiropractors to be recognised as an integral part of our National Health system, and that legislation might be contemplated to this end, as it has been in a number of other countries?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I think the only reply I can give to the noble Lord is that, under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960, the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine may recommend to the Privy Council an extension of the Act, and hence of its provisions for State registration to additional professions. The British Chiropractors Association could, if they wish, approach the Council in this connection.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, would my noble friend agree that it would not be in the interests of the community for the National Health Service to send confidential reports and X-rays to unqualified medical practitioners?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, as my noble friend knows, no record can be passed on to anybody or any concern without the consent not only of the doctor but also of the patient.
§ LORD PLATTMy Lords, I recognise that at the present time the General Medical Council disapproves of collaboration with unqualified practitioners, but need that really interfere with an interchange of facts such as an X-ray photograph, at the patient's request?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I thought I had made it clear that, as I understand it, the whole thing hinges on the fact that no record relating to a patient can be passed on to anybody or to any concern without the consent of both the doctor and the patient concerned.
THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, do I understand the noble Lord to be saying that these photographs may be passed over with the consent of the doctor and the patient? May I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that chiropractors are recognised in a number of countries, including Canada and the United States?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, in reply to the first question asked by the noble Earl, I understand it to be a combination of both doctor and patient, not "or". I am aware that they arc recognised in other countries. There is a professional association for chiropractors in this country, and it is up to them to make a move to see whether or not they could he recognised as an auxiliary body to the medical profession.
§ LORD ALPORTMy Lords, I am probably the only Member of your Lordships' House who does not know what a chiropractic practitioner is. Will the noble Lord enlighten me?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I understand that a chiropractor is somebody engaged in manipulating the spine.
§ LORD MAYBRAY-KINGMy Lords, would the noble Lord allow me to say that chiropractors are in fact doing a service according to their own professional standards, and since they arc willing to provide X-rays to the National Health Service, would not he agree that reciprocal arrangements ought to be made?
§ LORD WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, as I said earlier, we have no information that the chiropractors are in fact supplying X-ray material.