HC Deb 25 July 1950 vol 478 cc234-7
37. Mrs. Jean Mann

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the Report of the Scottish Committee on Tuberculosis Service in Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the recommendation of crisis expansion of tuberculosis service.

Miss Herbison

With his officers my right hon. Friend has been studying carefully this Report, but has found in it no recommendation for the expansion of facilities which has not already been considered, whilst most of the recommendations have been tried with varying degrees of success. In the last two years more than 300 additional beds have been brought into use for respiratory tuberculosis, many of them in infectious diseases and general hospitals. This process my right hon. Friend proposes to continue, especially in general hospitals where nursing staffs are strongest.

Mrs. Mann

But would my hon. Friend inform the Secretary of State that all the recommendations published in the British Medical Journal have not been tried, and notably these two recommendations—one, that beds in infectious diseases hospitals should be used, and second—which, I think, is practicable—that the patients should have treatment in their own homes? Will she ask him to give attention to those two points?

Miss Herbison

The information which my hon. Friend has is quite wrong. In my answer I pointed out that already we have 300 beds, most of them coming from infectious disease hospitals. As to domiciliary treatment we have taken certain steps in that direction in the auxiliary services.

Sir David Robertson

Is the hon. Lady aware that there are only 10 beds for tuberculosis patients in the County of Caithness, and that there is a very large number of sufferers walking about in great danger who should be accommodated, and for whom accommodation could be found?

Mr. Rankin

Is this the committee appointed by the Scottish National Health Services Council in July, 1948?

Miss Herbison

No, this is quite another committee.

Dr. Hill

Bearing in mind that there are 1,000 beds available in Switzerland for the treatment of tuberculosis, would the hon. Lady consider the restoration of the scheme under which public moneys were made available to enable persons to obtain treatment in Switzerland, and so set an example to her right hon. Friend the Minister of Health?

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

Do the recent figures show a rise in the trend of notification or a fall; and has the number of deaths, which was recently notable, continued, or is it slackening off now?

Miss Herbison

That is another question, but I can give the information. The number of notifications for the whole of Scotland has gone down slightly. In the number of deaths in the 16 principal towns in Scotland there has been about a 20 per cent. decrease during the last year.

Mr. John Hynd

Before involving the taxpayers in any considerable expenditure of money in sending people to Switzerland, would my hon. Friend seriously consider whether Swiss treatment is suitable for all these cases?

Mr. Rankin

Are any useful conclusion emerging from the second committee to which I referred; and will the report be soon available? We were assured in March of this year that it was on the point of being published.

Miss Herbison

That is another question, which perhaps my hon. Friend will put down.

Lieut.-Colonel Elliot

Further to the question as to the possible unsuitability of Swiss treatment—and this affects the whole of the United Kingdom—is it not a case of relieving the strain upon the overloaded bed system of this country, there providing treatment for all sufferers from tuberculosis in this country?

Miss Herbison

The question of Swiss sanatoria has not much to do with the Question on the Order Paper, and I can give no information on it at the present time.

Mrs. Mann

Could we not have a coordination of these committees which are investigating tuberculosis in Scotland?

42. Mr. Carmichael

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the large number of tuberculosis patients in Glasgow awaiting admission to hospital; and if he will give an assurance that every effort is being made to increase hospital accommodation and that the waiting list is being progressively reduced.

Miss Herbison

Glasgow's waiting list at 30th June this year showed an improvement of 205 compared with last year. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have already given to the hon. Lady the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mrs. Mann).

Mr. Carmichael

Can my hon. Friend give any indication of the weekly intake to the hospitals of these cases? As far as I can gather, there are thousands waiting to get in who are almost giving up hope of ever being attended to.

Miss Herbison

In my answer I gave the increase in the number that we have been able to take in for the year, but I am sure I can find that further information for my hon. Friend.

Mrs. Mann

How many are actually on the waiting list in Glasgow?

Mrs. Cullen

Could my hon. Friend find out what progress is being made in obtaining other accommodation for people, at present occupying hospital beds, who need neither medical attention nor the attention of trained nursing personnel?

Miss Herbison

That is quite another question.