Examination of Witnesses (Questions 200
- 201)
THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2004
PROFESSOR ALLYSON
POLLOCK, MR
JAMES JOHNSON,
PROFESSOR JOHN
APPLEBY AND
MR NIALL
DICKSON
Q200 Mr Prentice: As a health professional,
you tell me that over the years the BMA has been putting pressure
on the government of the day to open new medical schools, to have
new doctors in training, but it has not happened.
Mr Johnson: I think it is quite
scandalous that 55 years into the National Health Service we,
as the fourth largest economy in the world, are still taking doctors
and nurses from developing countries, as are the USA, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand. We ought to be self-sufficient by now:
I have no doubt about that whatsoever; it is a scandal.
Q201 Mr Prentice: A disgrace?
Mr Johnson: Yes.
Chairman: On that note, I apologise that
we have only scratched the surface of these big issues. You have
in your memoranda helped us greatly in the conversation we have
had today. Thank you for helping us to think both about the choice
and the voice side of it. It is our job to try and bring these
things together in some way. Thank you very much indeed for your
time this morning.
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