Dr. Morganasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that in many large towns a large number of general practitioners have been given no opportunity to acquaint themselves with the various phases of air-raid precautions work, or with the persons, the aid posts, etc., with which they would be required to co-operate in case of emergency; and whether he will take further steps in this matter?
§ Mr. E. BrownMedical officers of health were asked last year to make plans for reinforcing the hospitals and first-aid posts, in case of emergency, by practitioners not officialy attached to those services, and I am informed that they have generally got into touch with the profession in their areas, by calling meetings or otherwise, in order to familiarise them with the services. If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular towns where practitioners are not acquainted with the arrangements I will have inquiries made.
Dr. Morganasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the arrangements in the town of Cardiff, in which every general practitioner has been provided with adequate equipment for dealing with air-raid casualties at the site of incidents and has been informed as to exactly how the air-raid precautions services are organised and the part which he will have to play in them; and whether he will now take steps to compel the making of similar arrangements in other towns?
§ Mr. BrownI have received a report on the arrangements at Cardiff. While I approve them generally I am asking my medical officers to communicate with the responsible local officers on certain aspects of the scheme which require further consideration. With regard to the second part of the Question, my medical officers are constantly in touch with medical officers of health as to the most suitable arrangements for utilising the services of practitioners in the area, which must necessarily vary in detail according to the local conditions.
1032W
Dr. Morganasked the Minister of Health whether a private practitioner giving free attendance to one or more Home Guard casualties, and considering that the assistance of a mobile aid-post is essential, will have the authority to summon it and ensure its attendance without delay?
§ Mr. BrownA practitioner in the circumstances stated should get into touch with the nearest A.R.P. control, stating the nature of the medical assistance required. It will then be for the Controller, as in the case of an air-raid incident, to send a mobile aid-post or whatever other form of assistance his medical adviser considers necessary.
Dr. Morganasked the Minister of Health when the special committee to consider the steps necessary to secure a proper allocation of the available medical man-power between civilian and military services was appointed by his predecessor; whether its four members were nominated by any other committee or body, and, if so, which; what the terms of reference were; how many meetings were held; what procedure was adopted and what steps were taken to secure the opinion of medical organisations generally; and why no observations or suggestions have been sought by the committee of any medical organisations, including the Medical Practitioners' Union?
§ Mr. BrownThe committee was appointed in December last to consider in relation to the medical needs of the civilian population and His Majesty's Forces the situation which had arisen and was likely in the near future to arise from the recruitment of doctors from civilian employment to the Services and the further recruitment expected by the Service Departments, and to report what steps should be taken to secure a proper allocation of medical man-power as between civilian and military services, having regard to the supply of doctors available. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative. As to the remaining parts of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to-day to my hon. Friend the Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander).
Dr. Morganasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the prevalence 1033W of influenza and other non-surgical complaints, he will see that physicians are appointed to those emergency medical service hospitals where such cases are at present under the care of surgeons?
§ Mr. BrownThe services of a specialist physician are available at every hospital in the emergency hospital scheme, although not necessarily on a resident basis.