§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he is aware that at an inquest held on Saturday last, at Shorncliffe Camp, on Sergeant Wilmshurst, of the Sussex Regiment, it was shown in evidence that there was not a single orderly of the Army Medical Corps in the hospital, and that Wilmshurst, when taken to the hospital in a fit, died before a doctor could be found; and in view of the comments made by the jury at the inquest, whether he can say what steps, if any, are now being taken to secure without delay and adequate staff' for our military hospitals both at home and abroad.
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverThe hon. Member has been misinformed. Sergeant Wilmshurst was brought to hospital at 5.40 a.m., and was received by the orderly wardmaster, who was a Militia sergeant trained in Army Medical Corps-duties at Aldershot, and by a first-class orderly of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who had served both at home and abroad, and rejoined for hospital duty as a Royal Reservist in March last. The medical officer was sent for and arrived in a few minutes. The man was unconscious when brought to hospital and evidently dying, but not in a fit. Examination after death showed extensive heart disease quite sufficient to account for the suddenness of his death. No comment or rider was attached by the jury to their verdict. The staff serving at the hospital consists of seventeen non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Army Medical Corps, besides regimental soldiers.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONWhat proportion of that staff is at the hospital at the; present time?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe whole of it is there now, and was there on the occasion in question. The hon. Member read a completely misleading paragraph in the newspapers, for which there was not a. vestige of foundation.