HC Deb 14 May 1964 vol 695 c110W
70. and 71. Mr. J. Morris

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will order a full investigation into the cases sent to him by the hon. Member for Aberavon of constituents at Bryn, Port Talbot, who had to telephone a number of doctors in the area before finally obtaining medical assistance, and into what hardship was caused by the ensuing delay;

(2) whether he will now accede to the suggestion of the hon. Member for Aberavon, made by letter on 29th March, 1964, and in a subsequent interview with the Parliamentary Secretary, that a rota of local doctors should be published by his Department as an interim solution to the lack of doctor facilities at Bryn, Port Talbot, during the illness of the local doctor.

Mr. Braine

The practitioners from nearby areas are willing to visit Bryn in cases of emergency and have been giving attention to patients from Bryn who visit their surgeries. They consider, however, that their obligations to their own patients would not allow them to enter into additional formal commitments in respect of patients at Bryn. Arrangements were made from 11th May for a doctor from Bridgend to conduct surgeries in the village on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. I am considering the list of cases which was received from the hon. Member on 12th May and shall write to him about it as soon as possible.