§ 39. Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSasked the Minister of Health whether local War pensions committees are authorised to 391 make provision for extra nourishment for ex-service men in sanatoria or at home who are suffering from tuberculosis and in need of special diet, and if he will make provision for similar grants to be made to insured persons who are suffering from the same cause?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Dr. Addison)I understand that this provision is made in the case of ex-service men suffering from tuberculosis who are under treatment at home, and insurance committees are empowered to make similar provision for other insured persons, so far as the funds available for sanatorium benefit, after providing for other calls upon those funds, will allow. The question of providing "extra" nourishment for patients under treatment in sanatoria is one which scarcely arises in practice. These patients receive the dietary provided by the institution, which is specially adapted to the needs of tuberculous patients, and may be varied at the discretion of the medical superintendent to meet the special needs of individual cases.