HC Deb 25 October 1954 vol 531 c238W
128 and 129. Sir P. Macdonald

asked the Minister of Health (1) if the vacancy which occurred recently in the National Health Service at Brading, Isle of Wight, was advertised in the usual way; how many doctors applied for the post; and what steps were taken to ascertain the wishes of the residents in this locality regarding this appointment before it was made and confirmed;

(2) the procedure laid down by his Department to be applied by the National Health Service when a vacancy occurs in that service and a new appointment has to be made.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

The local executive council decides whether a vacancy should he declared and, if so, what steps should be taken to fill it. This vacancy (as is normal in the case of small practices) was not generally advertised in the medical Press, but particulars were notified to potential applicants by the Medical Practices Advisory Bureau of the British Medical Association. Two applications were received and were considered by the Medical Practices Committee, responsible for making the final selection, who agreed with the recommendations from a joint committee of the Isle of Wight Executive Council and the local medical committee.