§ MR. COHEN (Islington, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the regulations and restrictions prescribed by the Local Government Board for the reception of non-pauper patients into the hospitals under the control of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, pursuant to "The Public Health (London) Act, 1891," Section 8, Sub-section 1?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. H. FOWLER, Wolverhampton, E.)The Local Government Board have not prescribed regulations and restrictions as to the admission of non-pauper patients into the hospitals provided by the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylum District. The Managers exercise the discretionary powers conferred on them by the Statute as to the admission of such patients.
§ MR. COHENI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the fact that besides the 836 beds at Gore Farm, now no longer available for fever and diphtheria patients, and that there has been a further reduction in the accommodation for these patients in consequence of the demolition of certain old temporary wards, and repairs in other wards, he can state the actual number of beds available at the present moment in the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board for fever, diphtheria, and small-pox patients respectively?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI am informed by the Managers of the Metropolitan Asylum District that the number of beds available at the present moment for small-pox patients is 1,100, for cases of 336 scarlet and enteric fever 2,459, and for diphtheria and other cases 238. All scarlet fever and diphtheria beds are occupied.