Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many homoeopathic hospitals in the National Health Service have been closed during the last five years: and whether any such closures have been preceded by consultation with the Faculty of Homeopathy.
160W
§ Dr. OwenNo closures of homoeopathic hospitals within the NHS have taken place during the last five years.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the patients who receive treatment at homoeopathic hospitals during the last convenient 12-month period have travelled more than 25 miles to receive such treatment in the following categories (a) inpatient and (b) out-patient.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that information about the numbers of patients who have travelled more than 25 miles to receive homoeopathic treatment is not available centrally.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of people who have requested homoeopathic treatment in hospital have not been able to obtain such treatment, during a recent convenient 12-month period, under the National Health Service.
§ Dr. OwenThe treatment given to an individual patient is primarily a matter for his or her doctor who will no doubt also take the patient's own view into account. I am afraid I have no information about the number of occasions where homoeopathic treatment was asked for or provided.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of people who have received homoeopathic treatment through the National Health Service during the most recent convenient 12-month period.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that statistics are not collected of the total numbers of patients receiving homoeopathic treatment within the NHS. However, it is known that in 1974 at the four homoeopathic hospitals in England a total of 6,108 inpatients and 7,480 new out-patients were given treatment.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals she has for the further development of the teaching of homoeopathy in the National Health Service.
§ Dr. OwenThe content and form of postgraduate medical education is 161W primarily a matter for the medical profession itself to determine. Councils for postgraduate medical education have stated that they could not commend homoeopathy as a subject which postgraduate deans should include in courses which they recognise for payment from central funds of the fees and expenses of general practitioners. However, this guidance it not mandatory.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what grants under Section 63 of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968 have been paid to doctors wishing to undertake courses of instruction in the speciality of homoeopathic treatment;
(2) what representations she has had about the precedent set as Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, on 8th November by the first postgraduate symposium on homoeopathy to be held under Section 63 provisions of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968.
§ Dr. OwenDoctors who attended the postgraduate symposium on homoeopathy held in Birmingham on 8th November will have their fees paid and receive travelling and subsistence allowance where appropriate.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further proposals she has for the extension of the Royal London Homoeopathy Hospital; and whether she has any proposals to increase the number of homeopathic hospitals.
§ Dr. OwenI know of no proposals for the extension of the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital or for an increase in the number of homoeopathic hospitals.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals she has to enable patients in all parts of the country who desire homoeopathic treatment to receive such treatment.
§ Dr. OwenProposals for new development are considered by health authorities in the light of local needs of priorities. I am not aware of any plans at present for extending or newly establishing facilities for homoeopathic treatment.
162W
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has received about the closure or removal of the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she has any proposals for establishing new homoeopathic clinics under the National Health Service in conjunction with homoeopathic bodies now administering funds voluntarily donated for the extension of facilities for homoeopathic treatment.
§ Dr. OwenI have no such proposals. It is however open to individual health authorities to establish clinics in conjunction with homoeopathic bodies administering voluntary funds if they so wish.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will seek to amend the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968 with a view to clarifying Section 63 and its applicability to the teaching of homoeopathy.
§ Dr. OwenNo. Section 63 of the 1968 Act confers a general power to provide instruction conducive to the efficiency of the Health Service. It would not be appropriate to amend this in relation to a particular subject.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which medical schools under their contractual obligations in the National Health Service now teach homoeopathy.
§ Dr. OwenMedical schools do not have contractual obligations in the National Health Service. The content of the medical undergraduate curriculum is a matter for individual universities taking account of recommendations issued by the General Medical Council.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long the waiting period is for outpatients for an appointment at the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital.
§ Dr. OwenThe waiting period depends on the speciality and consultant. In medicine it is between five and 15 weeks; in other specialities it is generally under four weeks.
163W
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the purpose of the visit by the Minister of State for Health and Social Security to the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital on 14th November 1975.
§ Dr. OwenI visited to see for myself this hospital whose future is a subject of general interest. I am also keen to ensure as far as possible the rational planning of all health facilities. The National Hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children and the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital are all sited in close proximity and it is worth a close examination to see whether by sharing facilities where appropriate and by jointly planning future developments on the site, it might be possible, subject to satisfactory safeguards to retain each hospital's unique identity, and to make better use of existing NHS resources.
I am glad to know that discussions are now being arranged and I intend to keep in close touch with them.
Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further discussions have taken place since 18th July 1946 to safeguard the assurance then given about homoeopathic treatment and its future in the National Health Service.
§ Dr. OwenSuccessive Governments since the inception of the National Health Service have accepted the obligation to provide facilities for homoeopathy within the service. There have been a number of discussions on particular issues affecting the future of homoeopathic treatment in the National Health Service as the need has arisen.
I have always affirmed this Government's commitment to the provision of homeopathic treatment within the National Health Service.