Junior House Officers

Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Health – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 May 1953.

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Photo of Sir Barnett Stross Sir Barnett Stross , Stoke-on-Trent Central 12:00, 7 May 1953

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by some hospitals in obtaining candidates for junior house positions; what is the extent of this problem; and whether he will consider increasing the payment for locums for these positions from the present rate of £8 per week.

Photo of Mr Iain Macleod Mr Iain Macleod , Enfield West

Yes, Sir; I am aware that this problem is widespread particularly in the remoter hospitals. I am considering how it can be solved, but I do not think a solution can be found on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

Photo of Sir Barnett Stross Sir Barnett Stross , Stoke-on-Trent Central

Does the Minister recall that I wrote to him about a hospital which is not remote and which has 1,000 beds in Stoke-on-Trent, where I think that four out of the five surgeons have no assistance. Does he not think that increasing the remuneration above £8 per week might help them to get locums in?

Photo of Mr Iain Macleod Mr Iain Macleod , Enfield West

One of the difficulties about the scale was that it was only promulgated in November, 1952. The second difficulty seems to me to be that that would be going the wrong way about it, because to encourage people to take locum jobs is not the right way from the long-term point of view. The best solution may well be along the lines of seeing what happens as a result of the pre-registration Act which has come in this year.