Hospitals (Commonwealth Doctors)

Oral Answers to Questions — Social Services – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 November 1969.

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Photo of Mr John Biffen Mr John Biffen , Oswestry 12:00, 24 November 1969

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated proportion of hospital doctors employed by the National Health Service originating from new Commonwealth countries; and what change in this proportion has occurred over the past four years.

Photo of Mr Richard Crossman Mr Richard Crossman , Coventry East

Seventeen per cent' of hospital doctors employed in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales at 30th September, 1968, were known to have been born in Commonwealth countries other than Canada, Australia or New Zealand. At 30th September, 1965, the earliest date for which information is available, the proportion was 15 per cent.

Photo of Mr John Biffen Mr John Biffen , Oswestry

Is there any branch of the hospital service which is particularly heavily dependent on overseas doctors? Has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to a recent suggestion that of doctors below senior registrar level those coming from overseas account for 48 per cent. of the total employed? I appreciate that this is wider than the terms of my original Question.

Photo of Mr Richard Crossman Mr Richard Crossman , Coventry East

It is a rather different question. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that if we take the junior levels the percentage is much higher. That is precisely why we decided to implement the Todd Commission recommendations and to provide 1,000 more medical places in our schools, so as to replace them, because we think that there should not be such a high proportion of our younger doctors coming from countries overseas where they are badly needed.

Photo of Mr Julian Snow Mr Julian Snow , Lichfield and Tamworth

Notwithstanding the anxiety of my right hon. Friend and all hon. Members on this side of the House, is it not a fact that the National Health Service training facilities are a most important factor in improving world health generally?

Photo of Mr Richard Crossman Mr Richard Crossman , Coventry East

I think that that is so, but they would probably be an even bigger factor if we had a higher proportion of our doctors trained here, allowing a higher number of those who come here to go back.