§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he can state if, upon receipt of the unofficial application for a hospital ship by the General Officer commanding the Army of Occupation in Egypt on 27th June, 1898, any steps were taken to fit out a ship and hold it in readiness to proceed to Egypt in anticipation of the expected renewed application; what steps, if any, were taken to supplement the existing hospital accommodation and nursing staff at Cairo and Alexandria, with a view to the proper care of the sick and wounded while awaiting embarkation; and whether he can state the average number of patients in hospital at Cairo and Alexandria between 20th September and 30th October 1898, as well as the average number of trained nurses in attendance on them during that period; also, the average time that each patient remained at Alexandria or Cairo awaiting embarkation, and the number of deaths that took place amongst the patients?
§ MR. WYNDHAMNO steps were taken to fit out a hospital ship on the receipt of the unofficial communication. The hospital accommodation at Cairo and Alexandria was supplemented by 51 tents pitched close to the Hospitals; at Cairo, where the accommodation is greatly in excess of normal peace requirements, the tents were used for a few days only. The average number of patients in hospital during September was at Cairo 354, at Alexandria 113; during October, at Cairo 347, at Alexandria 268. Information has been asked for from Egypt as to the average time during which each patient awaited embarkation. This cannot be ascertained from the returns at the War Office. The deaths between 20th September and 30th October were, at Cairo 67, at Alexandria 37. The nursing staff at Cairo and Alexandria was supplemented by the addition of 138 non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONArising out of the Answer, the honourable Gentleman has not stated the average number of trained nurses in attendance on the men.
§ MR. WYNDHAMI must explain to the honourable and gallant Member that the non-commissioned officers and men of the Army Medical Corps are trained nurses. They go through a special training, and they are those who in ordinary circumstances are looked to to attend to the wounded and the sick.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONIf the honourable Gentleman is not able to answer the Question in regard to the number of trained nurses, I must put it again tomorrow.