§ Mr. Ginsburgasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what action is being taken following the letters and enclosures he has received from the hon. Member for Dewsbury concerning doctors deputising arrangements in the areas covered by the Dewsbury and West Riding Executive Councils of the National Health Service;
(2) if he will confirm that the administrative reviews of doctors deputising arrangements which are to be undertaken both by the Dewsbury and West Riding Executive Councils will cover all forms of deputising arrangements and will include the use of commercial deputising services as well as the services of principals.
§ Mr. AlisonThe Dewsbury Executive Council and the Executive Council for the West Riding of Yorkshire have put in hand reviews of the arrangements for medical cover provided by Doctors 49W Deputising Services, an independent organisation with headquarters in Leeds which is employed by many general practitioners in these areas. The councils have no power to conduct reviews of deputising arrangements which do not involve commercial deputising services.
The councils are considering formal complaints which have been made under the procedure laid down in the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations, 1956 (S.I.1956/1077) (as amended), and will similarly consider any further such complaints they may receive.