§ Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, to relieve the long waiting lists for hospital admission in Wales, he will provide that a greater proportion of consultant staff employed should work full time for National Health Service hospitals.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe number of consultants employed in the hospitals in Wales has risen in recent years and the Welsh Hospital Board are considering special measures to alleviate the position in those groups where waiting lists are 9W excessive. The existing contracts of consultants cannot however be changed without their consent; and under an agreement made with the Joint Consultants Committee a consultant who is prepared to give substantially the whole of his time to a post in the Hospital Service can normally choose between a whole-time or a maximum part-time contract.