§ 78. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Health how many general practitioners are now engaged solely in private practice; and what would be the additional cost if those doctors registered for the treatment of National Health Service patients.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe number of general practitioners engaged solely in private practice is not known precisely but is believed to be about 600 in England and Wales. I fear it is not possible to12W make any exact estimate of the additional cost to the Exchequer in the hypothetical event of all these doctors joining the National Health Service.