§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health, what steps are in contemplation with regard to the more intensive efforts to be made, on his direction, by the Central Medical War Committee for calling up more doctors for the service in the Armed Forces, thereby depleting still further the civilian medical services; is he in consultation with the Central Medical War Committee and the National Association of Insurance Committees for the purpose of eliminating overlapping of the work of general practitioners; and will he undertake to give any conclusions arrived at to the House before putting these into action?
§ Mr. E. BrownIn order to meet the essential requirements of the Services during the next few months, steps have already been taken by the Central Medical War Committee, as set out in circulars which the Committee has issued to local medical war committees and hospital authorities, to call for additional quotas from general practitioners and to 1401W limit the period for which recently qualified practitioners will hold hospital appointments. I am anxious that these steps shall cause the least possible detriment to the civilian medical services and as one of the means of safeguarding these services, measures for avoiding the overlapping of practices have been discussed by my officers with the bodies named in the second part of the Question. As a result the Central Medical War Committee has sent to local medical war committees a model scheme for urgent consideration and amendment in the light of the circumstances of each area. These committees have been asked to enter into full consultation with the insurance committees, with whom I am also communicating on the same matter.