§ 7. Sir HENRY CRAIKasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether provision will be made systematically for the sanatorium treatment of soldiers suffering from consumption or tuberculosis caused by hardships experienced on active service or developed as the result of wounds; whether he is aware that at present such provision is casual only and in some cases entirely wanting, and that offers of accommodation in consumption hospitals have been sometimes accepted and sometimes declined by the Medical Department of the War Office upon no apparent uniformity of principle; and who is responsible for this state of matters?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant)I fully recognise the importance of this matter, to which careful attention has been given. The National Health Insurance Commissioners accept the responsibility to secure the provision of accommodation in sanatoria of all cases of tuberculosis occurring amongst insured soldiers. Instructions to this effect and as to the procedure to be followed have recently been issued to all commands. The best method of providing sanatorium treatment for tubercular soldiers who are not insured is not yet finally settled, but the War Office has taken up and has at its disposal beds in several sanatoria and full use has been made of these. Only one offer of a consumption hospital has been refused. This was because the War Office were advised that it was not suitable for military cases.