§ 31. Captain PLUGGEasked the Minister of Pensions how many vacant beds there are in any of the hospitals carried on by his Department; and whether, where such vacancies exist, he will arrange to give more extended treatment to men whose disabilities are unrecognised for pension purposes but who do receive treatment by his Department?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. R. S. Hudson)A margin of vacant accommodation is kept by the Ministry in its own hospitals, which amounted on an average during the past year to 275 beds, in order to allow for emergencies. All patients, whether or not in receipt of pension, are retained in Ministry hospitals for as long as each case requires, the average stay being about 12 weeks. In the circumstances there would be no advantage in prolonging the stay of patients beyond the requirements of their treatment.