14. Miss Rathboneasked the Minister of Health whether any systematic review has been, or will be, made, through the hospital or medical authorities or otherwise, of all the cases evacuated from hospitals to their homes at the beginning of the war, for the purpose of ascertaining whether they are receiving adequate medical and nursing attention?
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Elliot)All hospitals have been instructed to provide in-patient treatment for all in need of it, and if the medical advisers of patients requiring hospital treatment give a certificate to this effect the patients should be able to obtain admission to hospital, whether they are cases evacuated from hospitals to their homes at the beginning of the war, or fresh cases. In these circumstances I do not think it necessary to call for a special review of the cases sent home by the hospital authorities at the beginning of the war.
§ Mr. ThorneCan the right hon. gentleman say why he has stopped work on extensions of hospitals which are absolutely necessary?
§ Mr. ElliotThe difficulty is in regard to the supply of materials and labour. I have not stopped any work which is necessary where it is possible to carry it out.
Miss RathboneIn view of the fact that many poor patients cannot afford to pay for domiciliary treatment, and, therefore, will not be in touch with any medical adviser, cannot the right hon. Gentleman arrange through the almoners, the district nurses and kindred organisations for visitation of evacuated patients to ensure that where they are in acute need of medical attention they will receive attention, which they may not be receiving and for which, in any case, they are unable to pay?
§ Mr. ElliotSurely, all these cases are covered by the domiciliary services, or through the insurance schemes, or through the out-patients' department of the hospitals. If any almoner, district nurse or anybody else comes into contact with any case which requires hospital treatment they should refer the matter to the patient's medical attendant, or, if the patient has no medical attendant, to the Public Assistance Authority. It is only on the certificate of a medical practitioner that a patient will be admitted to hospital. I think in that way the population is fully covered.
Miss RathboneWill the right hon. Gentleman admit that there are many patients, especially chronic cases, that may become acute cases who have been evacuated suddenly from their homes, and there is nobody in the home able to write to a doctor, and even a panel patient may not be receiving regular domiciliary visits? Would it not be much safer if they could be visited in their homes, which could be done through the proper visiting agencies?
§ Mr. ElliotThat problem affects not merely those evacuated from the hospitals at the beginning of the war but all sick people, and, obviously, they must be dealt with in the ordinary way: that is to say, patients in need of hospital treatment should be admitted to hospital in the ordinary way. The hon. Lady's further question does not affect merely a number of people who were sent home, but any number of cases that may arise in the future.