HC Deb 15 July 1930 vol 241 cc1076-7
6. Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the arrangements in force for providing medical attention for the families of officers and men serving in the Army?

Mr. SHAW

As the answer is a long one, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

Would the right hon. Gentleman include the provision of medical service for the families of those serving overseas?

Mr. SHAW

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will read my answer, which will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I think it will give him the information that he desires, but, if it does not, information is always at his disposal if he asks for it.

Following is the answer:

The families of officers and soldiers on the married quarters roll are afforded medical attendance as a privilege so far as facilities are available from a military source. At practically all military stations there is a military medical officer or employed civilian medical practitioner whose duties include medical attendance on officers' and soldiers' families. If unfit to attend the medical inspection room, families on the married quarters roll may be attended in their quarters provided they reside within a radius of one mile from a point fixed by the General Officer Commanding (usually the medical inspection room). At certain stations where the strength of the garrison is large in comparison with the civil population, there is a military families hospital to which the families of soldiers on the married quarters roll may be admitted. At stations where there is no military families hospital a member of the family of a soldier on the married quarters roll may, in special circumstances, be admitted to a civil hospital at the cost of Army funds.

Hospital accommodation is not provided for the families of officers, but the families of officers in the Salisbury Plain Area and at Ismailia, where the local conditions are exceptional, may be admitted to the local military families hospital on payment of the usual hospital charges, provided accommodation is available. At Aldershot, a wing has been added to the military families hospital at the cost of local charitable funds for the accommodation of the families of officers in that Command. The charges for admission to this wing are fixed by the local committee and all additional expense in connection with the wing is borne by the committee. Families of soldiers not on the married quarters roll may also have such facilities as are available, but they cannot be visited at their residences by a medical officer. They may, under the special authority of the General Officer Commanding, be admitted to a military hospital on payment of 1s. a day.