§ Mr. Galbraithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement about his proposals for reorganising the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAfter careful consideration of the proposals in the previous Government's Green Paper and the views expressed by many professional and other interests, I have decided that the administration of the National Health Service in Scotland should be unified and that the general practitioner, hospital and local health services should be administered by a single health authority in each area. I propose that the new authorities should be outside local government, but should have close links with the local authorities responsible for the social work services and environmental health services. A new structure on these lines454W will, I hope, enable the doctors and other professional people working in the health services to provide a better service for their patients.
I intend to examine very closely, in consultation with representatives of the organisations concerned, the detailed structure required to ensure the most effective operation of the unified service. I hope to be able to publish a fuller statement of my proposals early in 1971.
In working out my proposals I shall keep in close touch with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Social Services and the Secretary of State for Wales; but I shall have in mind that special needs and circumstances in Scotland may require differences in the administrative structure.