HC Deb 27 November 1906 vol 165 cc1426-7
MR. ALDEN (Middlesex, Tottenham)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board what sum of money the Whitechapel Guardians have spent on medical out-relief (exclusive of salaries) during the last year of which their accounts have been received by the Local Government Board.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS, Battersea)

The sum spent during the year ended at Lady Day last, exclusive of salaries and extra medical fees, appears to have been £123.

MR. ALDEN

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will take steps to secure that, in cases of serious or infectious sickness (including phthisis, tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough, and chicken pox) of persons destitute of the means of obtaining a doctor otherwise, the Whitechapel guardians or their relieving officers will give orders for the district medical officer to visit such persons at the beginning of the sickness instead of waiting till the sickness is urgent.

MR. JOHN BURNS

I am informed that in all cases of sickness at White chapel the relieving officers, on application, give orders for the district medical officers to visit. There is no delay pending inquiries into the cases. These are made afterwards. The district medical officer visits when he receives the order. There is no question of waiting until the sickness becomes urgent.