§ 36. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that some local authorities attempt to recover from patients the cost of their treatment in isolation hospitals for infectious diseases; by what authority are such costs recovered from local or other patients; whether he or his predecessors have made any pronouncement on the desirability or otherwise of recovering such costs; and whether, in view of the present practice of some authorities, he will make a pronouncement as to the undesirability of recovering such costs?
Mr. HUDSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The authority under which the costs of isolation hospital treatment are recovered by local authorities from patients is Section 132 of the Public Health Act, 1875. No general pronouncement has been made by my right hon. Friend or his predecessors regarding the desirability or undesirability of recovering such costs, but, in response to inquiries from individual local authorities, my right hon. Friend has suggested that discretion should be exercised as undue insistence might tend to defeat the objects for which isolation hospitals are provided. My right hon. Friend does not think that he would be justified in making any such general pronouncement as is suggested in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIn view of the statement already made by his right hon. Friend, does not the hon. Gentleman think this a dangerous course to pursue?
Mr. HUDSONI said in the answer that local authorities have been told, in answer to inquiries, that each case should be considered on its own merits.