HC Deb 02 February 1939 vol 343 cc375-7
66. Sir Francis Fremantle

asked the Minister of Health whether he will state, in general, the progress made in preparation of the medical and auxiliary services for civil defence, according to the resolution of this House of 30th November last?

Mr. Elliot

As the answer is somewhat long I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir F. Fremantle

May I ask whether the general effect is satisfactory to those chief divisional surgeons who will have to carry out these duties?

Mr. Elliot

If my hon. Friend will read the answer I think he will find that it is satisfactory.

Following is the answer:

Yes, Sir. I am glad to state that plans have now been made for finding about 200,000 beds in existing hospitals and institutions in the first 24 hours of an emergency by sending patients home and transferring them to other accommodation and by putting additional beds and equipment in the wards. Another 100,000 could be found later by using ancillary parts of hospitals not at present used as wards. To enable these plans to be put into operation, considerable quantities of spare beds and bedding and other equipment have been obtained and are on order. Plans have also been drawn up for the grouping of the hospitals and the working arrangements which would operate between the individual hospitals in war time. These matters are being dealt with in a memorandum on the emergency hospital organisation. A draft of this memorandum is under discussion with the Voluntary Hospitals Committee for London and the British Hospitals' Association and others directly interested. Progress is also being made with the creation of new hospital accommodation. The hospital officers of my department have noted buildings and land adjoining hospitals in their several regions which are suitable for expansion, and plans for new hospital units are under consideration. A booklet on the structural precautions which might be taken against air raids has been issued to all hospitals and local authorities. A circular on first-aid posts and ambulance services has been similarly issued, following the transfer of responsibility for these matters from the Home Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself which took effect in December. I am sending copies of these two documents to my hon. Friend.

Local authorities are making good progress in securing the necessary transport for ambulance work. In London, for instance, 1,200 commercial vehicles have already been earmarked by the London County Council in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport and the work of earmarking a further 800 is proceeding rapidly. These figures are additional to the fleet of some 250 peace time ambulances controlled by the County Council and to the 300 Green Line coaches, provision for the immediate conversion of which has already been made.

As regards personnel, I am meeting a representative gathering of the medical profession on the 15th of this month in order to discuss a scheme for allocating doctors as far as possible to the most suitable kinds of work in the event of war, full use being made of the Register compiled on behalf of the Government by the British Medical Association covering 95 per cent. of the profession. The Central Emergency Committee for Nursing recently appointed by me has commenced its work of registering and organising reserves of nurses and nursing auxiliaries.