§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the recommendation in the alternative rural services report that transport to main surgeries needs considerable improvement to prevent a deterioration in medical services; and if he will make financial assistance available in badly affected areas.
§ Dr. VaughanProblems of access to doctors' surgeries and other health facilities are best dealt with locally where, as the report suggests, a number of ways of making improvements already exist. I do not regard central financing arrangements as the answer; it is for the local health authorities to judge the extent to which they should use resources to improve access to health care.