§ Captain Kerbyasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the waste in the National Health Service caused by duplication of effort, in that large numbers of patients are treated in the out-patient's departments of hospitals who could, alternatively, be attended by general practitioners; and whether he will explore the possibility of making economies in this respect by providing general practitioners with additional incentives for private practice.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithAccess to out-paient departments for consultation depends on reference by a general practitioner and I am not aware of any evidence that general practitioners are referring large numbers of patients unnecessarily.