§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will explain why, [under regulations of the Local Government Board, no provision whatever has been made for the administration of anæsthetics when operations have to be performed by Poor Law medical officers on sick paupers at a distance from a hospital or workhouse infirmary; and why no alteration has been made in the scale of fees allowed for special operations performed by Poor Law medical officers since the year 1847, many important operations, which have now become general, not having been added to the original list.
512 (Answered by Mr. Long.) The first matter referred to in the Question has been dealt with by the Local Government Board by means of a circular letter which they issued to Boards of Guardians in November, 1894. In that letter the Board recommended that, under ordinary circumstances, a case in which a serious operation was required, should not be treated in a workhouse or at the patient's home, but should be sent to a public hospital. They stated, however, that in any case, when the latter course was not practicable, or when the operation was not of a serious character, they were prepared, if an anæsthetic was required, to consider an application from the Guardians for sanction to the payment to the medical officer of a reasonable sum in respect of any assistance which it was necessary for him to obtain in connection with the administration of the anæsthetic, or of other cost incurred in connection with its use. It has been the invariable practice of the Board to give their sanction to reasonable payments proposed to be made by Boards of Guardians to medical officers in circumstances of the kind referred to. I am not aware that difficulties have been experienced in connection with the scale of fees to Poor Law medical officers for operations, but if representations are made to me showing that alterations are required, I shall be willing to give the subject careful consideration. At the same time I would repeat that, under ordinary circumstances, serious operations should not be treated in a workhouse or at the patient's home, but should be sent to a public hospital.