§ MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether in December, 1897, Patrick Gillman, telegraph clerk in the Central Telegraph Office, London, visited the official medical attendant, who stated that he was suffering from cold; whether, after a fortnight's treatment, Gillman sought the advice of a private doctor, who immediately declared that the complaint was pneumonia, and ordered Gillman to bed immediately, and from whence he was afterwards removed to Guy's Hospital; whether, owing to the inattention on the part of the official doctor during the early stages of the illness, Gillman's health has completely broken down, it being doubtful if he will be able to resume duty; and whether he will investigate the whole of the circumstances connected with the case?
§ MR. HANBURYMr. Edmund Gillman, the telegraphist referred to by the honourable Member, was seen on the 18th December last by the medical officer at the Post Office, who states that Mr. Gillman showed no symptoms of serious illness, but was suffering from "cold, cough, and loss of appetite." Mr. Gillman returned on the 21st December to have his medicine renewed, but did not then ask to see the medical officer, as he had a right to do. On the 5th of January Mr. Gillman's brother wrote from Guy's Hospital that his brother had consulted a private medical gentleman, who stated he was seriously ill, and had been suffering from pneumonia, and on the 10th January Mr. Gillman himself wrote 1372 from Guy's Hospital enclosing a medical certificate that he was suffering from "pulmonary disease." Mr. Gillman has been on sick leave since the 30th of December, and his private medical attendant in Ireland states that under favourable conditions he may be able to resume duty in about three months. The Postmaster General has already had before him all the circumstances of the case, and, while he sincerely sympathises with Mr. Gillman in his long and severe illness, he cannot but regret that Mr. Gillman should not have given the medical officer a further opportunity of examining his state of health when he applied for more medicine on the 21st December.