Baroness VICKERSMy 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, in view of the cutting down of the services in acute hospitals, they will state what action is being taken to reward family doctors for the considerable extra work they will have to undertake including the treatment of the increasing number of old people needing care in their homes.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, we envisage a lower rate of growth, not a cut down in expenditure. The rate of growth envisaged for services—including hospital services—used mainly by the elderly is greater than the predicted increase in the elderly population. It would be for the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration to take into account, in the light of incomes policy, any increase in general practitioners' workload in the recommendations they make to the Prime Minister.
Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. He will agree with me, I hope, that the general practioners in the National Health Service play a really splendid part, and that, in view of the fact that there is to be a cut in the building of acute hospitals in particular, surely their burden will be increased? Bearing in mind the fact that they have to attend to many more elderly, whom we want to keep out of hospitals rather than put into hospitals, surely general practitioners need a just reward?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I understand the anxiety of the noble Baroness, and I should like to take this opportunity of saying that we recognise the valuable contribution which the medical profession makes to the health and happiness of the community, as it has done for many years. As the noble Baroness will know, the Consultative Document on Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services considered the position of the elderly and gave Regional Health Authorities certain advice in the matter; the advice being to give some priority to the plight of the elderly. We are satisfied that notwithstanding the reduced rate of growth it will be possible to deal with the needs of the elderly.
§ Baroness GAITSKELLMy Lords, does the Minister agree that although the general practitioner had a very raw deal when the National Health Service was first introduced, he has quite a fair deal today?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLThat is the view of Her Majesty's Government, my Lords.
Baroness SUMMERKILLMy Lords, do I understand from what the noble Lord says that the geriatric services have been specifically excluded from the cuts?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLThey have not been specifically excluded, my Lords, but advice has been given as to how the needs of the geriatric services should be met.
§ Baroness BROOKE of YSTRADFELLTEMy Lords, in view of the over-worked state of most general practioners, either in groups or singly, will Her Majesty's Government consider advocating a scheme whereby elderly people leaving hospital to return home to a solitary life on their own, are informed as to where they can get medical help and advice if they are suddenly taken ill again? I ask this knowing that many old people are very diffident about giving trouble.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, anyone entering hospital will presumably have a general practitioner as his or her doctor, so on leaving hospital the patient would know who his or her doctor is. 1033 I would assume that when an elderly person, as well as any other patient, leaves hospital the doctor would be informed that his patient has been returned to his or her home. So far as the elderly are concerned, I can see the need perhaps for some kind of watchdog, but I cannot say that there are any plans for this, which is a matter that is normally dealt with very effectively by voluntary organisations.
§ Baroness BROOKE of YSTRADFELLTEMy Lords, will Her Majesty' Government consider looking at the scheme which I understand has been very successful in Eastbourne, whereby the milkman is the co-operative link in passing on knowledge?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I shall pass the comments and observations of the noble Baroness on to my right honourable friend.
§ Lord AMULREEMy Lords, can the Minister tell me how long it takes generally, when an elderly patient has been discharged from hospital, for the hospital's letter stating what the hospital has done, to reach the general practitioner?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLNot without notice, my Lords.