§ MR. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements exist for the treatment at sea in emergency of the sick and wounded, and whether there is at the disposal of the Admiralty any trained available staff of doctors and nurses separate from the ordinary staff of the Navy Department analogous to those of the St. John's Ambulance Association on land; and whether, if no such Association is now in operation, the Admiralty will take such steps as will facilitate the formation of one forthwith?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Sir U. KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTH, Lancashire, Clitheroe)A sufficient staff of medical officers and attendants is borne according to the complement in Her Majesty's ships. These have been found to be equal to the performance of all the medical duties, including emergencies as they arise. There is no Association at the disposal of the Admiralty analogous to the St. John's Ambulance Association. Civil medical practitioners can be temporarily employed under the Regulations, and could be enrolled on very short notice. As regards nurses, the pensioners of the sick-pay staff are available, supplemented in hospital ships by ladies on the nursing staff.