HL Deb 28 October 1946 vol 143 cc807-8WA
LORD MERTHYR

asked His Majesty's Government in how many county districts in England and Wales medical officers of health are still permitted to engage in private practice; in which counties are these districts situated; and what steps are proposed to be taken to ensure that the whole country is served by full-time medical officers without further delay.

THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)

There are 511 county districts in England and III in Wales (according to the latest available information) where the medical officer of health is not restricted from engaging in private practice. These county districts are situated in all counties in England and Wales except Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Westmorland, the Isle of Wight and Caernarvonshire. All counties except three have formulated arrangements under Section 58 of the Local Government Act, 1929, and Section III of the Local Government Act, 1933, for securing that as vacancies for medical officers of health occur in county districts the persons appointed to fill the vacancies shall be restricted from engaging in private practice. Steady progress was being made before the war in accordance with these arrangements in securing the appointment of whole-time medical officers of health not engaged in private practice, but the acute shortage of medical man-power during the war interrupted the process and from 1943 until the early part of this year appointments were normally made on temporary basis.

A number of county district councils whose proposals for full-time permanent appointments has had on that account to be deferred are now putting forward proposals for such appointments in accordance with the arrangements formulated under the Local Government Acts of 1929 and 1933. These proposals have to be considered in the light of changed circumstances, for example the proposed modification in the duties of medical officers of health under the National Health Service proposals, and in some instances it is necessary to discuss with the authorities concerned whether any alteration of the original arrangements is desirable. The Government are in full accord with the view that the employment of full-time medical officers of health throughout the country is an object to be attained with all practicable speed. They will carefully watch the position and consider what further steps are necessary in the light of experience.