General Practitioners: Hippocratic Oath

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2014 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jolly]

That is the case.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

My Lords, going back to the point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, will the noble Baroness repeat the words of the noble Earl, Lord Howe, when this issue was raised a couple of weeks ago—namely, that the core part of the 2004 contract that the noble Lord complained about was negotiated in the 1990s by the previous Conservative Government? Will she confirm that?

As far as the oath is concerned, the noble Baroness will be aware that part of it states:

“Whatsoever house I may enter, my visit shall be for the convenience and advantage of the patient”.

Would Hippocrates be surprised by how few home visits are now done by doctors?

[Baroness Jolly]

I cannot say whether or not Hippocrates would be surprised. However, doctors—certainly, those in the out-of-hours service—are committed to home visits where it is decided that they are clinically appropriate.