HC Deb 06 January 1913 vol 46 cc810-2
33. Sir HENRY CRAIK

asked whether the attention of the Insurance Commissioners has been called to the case of an insured person resident in Cleveland Residences, Cleveland Street, St. Pancras, who has been refused admission to a sanatorium on the ground that the disease from which he suffers is too advanced, and for whom certain special nourishment was ordered by the doctor on 3rd December concurrently with his treatment at home; whether such order was, on 28th December, still unexecuted, in spite of the attention of the officers responsible having been repeatedly called to it; and whether the only hope for this insured person is that he may be received at a private hospital at Hastings, the cost being defrayed by private charity?

Mr. MASTERMAN

The insured person in question was recommended for domiciliary treatment, the medical officer stating that he doubted whether a sanatorium would accept the case for treatment. I understand that domiciliary treatment is being given to him, but I regret that owing to a misunderstanding some special nourishment recommended by the practitioner attending him appears not yet to have been supplied to him. The committee are, I understand, arranging for the articles to which he is entitled being now at once supplied to him.

Sir H. CRAIK

Is it not the case that repeated reminders were sent to supply this nourishment, and that continued from 3rd December until 6th January?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I do not know about the repeated reminders, though I understand in this case there was a misunderstanding, and I am very glad the hon. Gentleman has brought it, to my notice.

31. Mr. NEWTON

asked whether Emma A., Richard A., and George A., the children dependent on an insured person living within the district of the Essex insurance committee, who have been recommended for sanatorium treatment, have yet been admitted into a sanatorium?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I am informed by the Essex insurance committee that the children mentioned have not been recommended for sanatorium treatment. If the hon. Gentleman has any further information I shall be glad if he will communicate with me.

62. Mr. HOHLER

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Miss Agnes Varney, a dressmaker, of 278, Castle Road, Luton, Chatham, an insured person, applied for sanatorium benefit on the 23rd October, 19)2; that the case was duly approved for sanatorium benefit; that on the 3rd December, 1912, the medical officer for the county of Kent wrote to Miss Varney's mother, saying that Dr. West had reported to him the circumstances of her daughter's case, and that he regretted that at the present time he could offer nothing more than medical treatment at home by a doctor selected by Mrs. Varney, and suggesting that she should apply to the Charity Organisation Society for assistance as to proper food; whether he will state what provision has been made in the county of Kent for sanatoria; whether, in such sanatoria, it is intended to provide medical treatment and suitable food for the patients; and whether, in default of being able to offer accommodation for a patient in a sanatorium, suitable food will be provided for the patient at her home as well as medical treatment?

Mr. MASTERMAN

The case referred to by the hon. Member had not been previously brought to my notice, and I am making further inquiries as to it from the Kent Insurance Committee. The Committee have reserved twenty-five beds for institutional treatment, and have also obtained accommodation for patients in various sanatoria. Patients in sanatoria receive the medical treatment and nourishment suitable to their condition, and in the case of persons receiving domiciliary treatment the Insurance Committee bear the cost of such nourishment as is recommended by the practitioner in attendance, and is ancillary to the treatment.

Mr. HOHLER

Will the right hon. Gentleman instruct the medical officer to see that this lady is provided with proper and suitable food?

Mr. MASTERMAN

Certainly. I said in my answer that I am making further inquiries.

Mr. HOHLER

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate to me the result of his inquiries?

Mr. MASTERMAN

I shall do so.