asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Basingstoke District General Hospital is no longer providing the general practitioners in its area with contrast media X-rays; and when it is planned to restore this service which enables early diagnosis of malignancies.

The service by which general practitioners could obtain contrast media X-rays for their patients by direct access to the X-ray department is no longer available, because it could not be maintained by the single-handed consultant radiologist. The Wessex Regional Health Authority has requested an additional consultant post and I shall consider this request with the Central Manpower Committee.In the meantime, general practitioners will refer their patients to the out-patient department of the hospital.