§ Mr. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Health whether he will seek powers to ensure that general practitioners in the National Health Service shall be available to their patients on the telephone.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodNo, but without prejudging any entirely exceptional case it seems quite clear to me, as a general matter of common sense, that a doctor providing general medical services is not in a proper position to fulfil his obligations to visit his patients when their condition so requires if he does not make reasonable arrangements for them to communicate with him by telephone.