§ Mr.Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he considers any action is required.
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§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will introduce legislation to compel doctors to disclose medical records to tribunals where these are requested by parents clairning payment for vaccine damage to their children; (2) in how many claims for vaccine damage payments difficulties have arisen, or complaints made, about lack of medical records.
§ Sir George YoungEverything possible is done to seek any evidence, medical or otherwise, which is required initially or which claimants ask to be obtained. There are however, inevitable problems about obtaining records in respect of periods long passed and sometimes certain records are no longer available.
Statistics are not maintained of difficulties or complaints about lack of medical records, but it is estimated that in about 20 cases where claims have been reviewed by tribunals, claimants have expressed dissatisfaction about the absence of certain medical records. As the records are no longer extant legislation about their disclosure would be of no assistance and my right hon. Friend has no proposals for legislation on this subject.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications have been made for vaccine damage payments; how many have been accepted or rejected; and how many have yet to be decided.
§ Sir George YoungThe information is as follows:
by him arising from the recommendation contained in paragraph 7.17 of the Royal Commission report on the National Health Service of 1979;
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§ Dr. VaughanBasic classification of areas is determined by average list size, but the Medical Practices Committee has discretion to take local circumstances into account. I see no need at present to strengthen its existing powers.
§ Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is proposing to implement at an early date the recommendation contained in paragraph 7.18 of the Royal Commission report on the National Health Service 1979.
§ Dr. VaughanNo. I am not yet convinced that the case for assisted voluntary or compulsory retirement has been fully made out. In any case, the recommendations could not be implemented without considerable additional cost to the NHS.