§ 4. Captain CLIVEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the hospital accommodation at Harwich which was said to be sufficient for one officer and eight seamen consists of two rooms, in one of Which there is one bed and no other furniture and in the other 3142 two beds, a table, and two chairs; that neither of these rooms appear to have been papered, distempered, or painted for many years; that under the window of one of them there is a heap of stable manure, and that to this room an officer was recently taken to be operated on for appendicitis; and whether, seeing that Harwich is now a naval base, he would see that proper and sufficient hospital accommodation is provided?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of ADMIRALTY (Dr. Mac-namara)There are no naval sick quarters proper at Harwich. As at other places along the coast there is an arrangement under which temporary accommodation is placed at our disposal as occasion arises. In the case in question a young officer was brought in very seriously ill with appendicitis. An immediate operation was necessary, and it was quite impossible to move the patient to more suitable accommodation. The operation was performed successfully and the young officer, who is doing well, has been removed to other quarters. The question of the medical arrangements at Harwich is receiving attention.
§ Captain CLIVEDoes the right hon. Gentleman admit the description I have given of these quarters?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThey are not naval quarters; they are what I may call emergency quarters. I am not prepared to quarrel with the statement made.