§ Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions there are under the new contract for general practitioners to refuse to add new patients to their lists if(a) women refuse to have cervical smear tests and (b) parents refuse to have their children immunised.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe new contract does not affect the long-standing right of a general practitioner to decide whether or not to accept a patient on to his or her list. GPs have never been required to have or to state a reason for removing a patient from their list or refusing to accept a new patient on to their list. However, to refuse patients solely because they do not wish to be immunised or have a cervical smear test is most unprofessional and suggests a remarkable lack of responsiveness to the needs and wishes of the patient. I am sure that the professional bodies would support the Government in condemning such action.