§ 30. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that women attending for medical examination at the Ministry of Health Centre, Saint Barnabas Church Hall, Lavender Gardens, Clapham, S.W., for panel benefits on account of pregnancy, are obliged to disrobe in an insufficiently heated room and afterwards to walk along a cold corridor to the medical officer's room; and will he cause adequate provision to be made for the comfort and welfare of women in future attending the centre for such medical examinations?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have not received any complaints with reference to the matter raised in the question, but I have caused inquiries to be made, and I am assured that the heating apparatus in the insured persons' dressing room is adequate, and that the medical officers and nurses at the centre have the fullest regard to the comfort and welfare of the patients. The corridor leading to the medical officer's room is only six yards in length and is closed at each end, and patients passing along the corridor can wear as much of their indoor or outdoor clothing as they may wish.
§ Colonel DAYDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is fair to ask these women to attend for this examination in a very advanced stage of pregnancy?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODNo, it is a supplementary—
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is one of which I have not had notice, but I have no reason to suppose that any complaint can be made on that score.