§ Mr. Chapmanasked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to publish the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the differences between the Chairman of the Birmingham No. 6 Group Hospital Management Committee and the Group Medical Committee; what 175W are the inquiry committee's recommendations; and what action he proposes to take on them.
§ Mr. PowellYes, the Report and a Supplementary Report as to the allegation concerning a motion of censure on a certain doctor are being made available to the Press today and two copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The Committee found no ground for criticism of the Chairman's personal integrity and paid a tribute to his hard work and enthusiasm, but concluded that the work of the hospitals would be prejudiced if he continued as Chairman. The principal conclusions and recommendations of the Reports are that the Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee should be changed, that the recognised constitutional procedures should henceforth be followed by Chairman, Committee and officers, that the membership of the Committee should be strengthened, that consideration should be given to the re-grouping of the hospitals, that the Group Medical Committee should revert to its proper function, that the Regional Hospital Board should establish and maintain close supervision of the administration of this Group, and, as regards the motion of censure, that the action of the Medical Superintendent at Rubery Hill Hospital was wholly unjustified.
I accept these conclusions. The recommendations are being brought to the attention of all concerned in acting upon them. I have invited the Regional Hospital Board to submit to me urgently proposals for re-grouping the hospitals.