HC Deb 13 March 1928 vol 214 cc1697-8
61 Dr. SHIELS

asked the Minister of Pensions (1) how many disabled pensioners there are in Scotland; and what is the average number for the last three years of disabled or affected men without pension who have attended the Ministry centres for treatment;

(2) how many men in Scotland last year received home treatment with allowances; and what is the total number of hospital beds in Scotland which the Ministry considers adequate;

(3) how many Scottish disabled men are being treated in England; what are the numbers for the respective diseases or conditions; and where are the places of treatment?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

As the answer involves a considerable amount of detailed figures, I propose to circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The total number of disabled officers, nurses and men in receipt of pension or other grant from the Ministry in Scotland is approximately 43,000. The average number of patients attending at Ministry clinics in Scotland and in receipt of in-patient treatment in each of the last three years was as follows:

Clinics. Ministry Hospitals.
1925 … … 960 600
1926 … … 610 495
1927 … … 425 365
1,484 disabled men received treatment at home together with allowances during the year 1927. The Ministry has in view hospital accommodation in Scotland for current needs of about 400 beds, which will provide a substantial reserve. In view of the decline in the requirements of hospital treatment, I am unable to estimate what accommodation may ultimately be found to be necessary. 105 Scottish disabled men are under treatment in Ministry hospitals in England. Of these, 99 are in four hospitals, namely, Harrowby, Orpington, Cosham and Maghull, which have been established for the treatment of special forms and degrees of nervous disease, including epilepsy, and six are medical and surgical cases receiving special treatment in Mossley Hill (1), Sidcup (2), and Roehampton (3) Hospitals.