§ 27. Dr. CHAPPLEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a patient in an advanced state of consumption recommended to, and receiving treatment in, a sanatorium in Stirlingshire under the National Insurance Act has left before the expiry of the period of treatment prescribed for him and has returned to his home and family; whether he is aware that the purpose of sanatoria is largely the isola- 468 tion of infectious cases of tuberculosis; and whether, if compulsory isolation in a sanatorium over the period of active infectivity is impossible, he will supplement these institutions by health missionaries who will visit regularly the homes of tuberculous persons which are likely to be centres of infection in order to see that sanatorium conditions as nearly as possible prevail?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am informed by the Stirlingshire Insurance Committee that the patient in question left the sanatorium without the knowledge of the Committee, and that no communication or application has since been received from him or any one acting on his behalf. Sanatorium benefit under the Insurance Act is, of course, optional and not obligatory upon the patient. Persons in receipt of domiciliary treatment are instructed as to the conditions likely to impair either their own health or that of their households, and insurance committees have powers under Section 60 (1) (b) to disseminate information of this kind in their several districts.