§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list those regional and district health authorities which provide specialised counselling and advice on hysterectomies;
(2) whether he is satisfied with current levels of advice and counselling within the National Health Service for women undergoing hysterectomies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergGiving specialist advice to patients is an integral part of the clinical care which a doctor provides. In the case of a woman undergoing a hysterectomy this would be the gynaecologist to whom she had been referred, and the decision whether to arrange any other specialist advice or counselling would be one for the gynaecologist's clinical judgment. We are not aware of any counselling services provided specifically for women undergoing hysterectomies, but I have no evidence to suggest that the present arrangements are unsatisfactory.