§ 35. Mr. Magnayasked the Minister of Health whether he is now able to make a statement on the steps proposed for securing that modern and properly organised treatment is provided for fracture cases occurring amongst industrial workers?
§ Mr. E. BrownYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have consulted the Minister of Labour and other Ministers concerned, and propose to provide for these cases as far as possible under the Emergency Hospital Scheme. The hospital accommodation available under this scheme includes a large number of beds in hospitals and orthopaedic centres which are, or will shortly be, specially equipped for dealing with cases of fracture. In these hospitals and centres there are available, in addition to surgical skill of the highest class, the most modern forms of treatment by physio-therapy—including massage, electricity, and remedial exercises—and occupational therapy. For the purpose of treating war casualties, both military and civil, these facilities are welded together into a comprehensive organisation, supervised by the consultants in orthopaedic surgery employed by the Ministry of Health and the Department of Health for Scotland, so that the patients can be sent to the hospitals best suited for dealing with their injuries and, if necessary, transferred from one to another in the course of their treatment. The treatment 1155 of casualties is and must remain the primary purpose of the Emergency Hospital Scheme. But, in order to secure the fullest possible use of the organisation which has been provided, the Government have decided that in so far as there are vacant beds not likely to be required for the treatment of war casualties, they should be made available for fracture cases occurring amongst certain classes of the civil population whose early return to work is of special importance to the national cause.
Accordingly, cases of fracture sustained, whether in the course of their work or not, by manual workers engaged in any of the following employments, namely, munition work—including ship-building and ship-repairing—building and civil engineering, mining, agriculture, fishing, public utility undertakings, shipping and transport, will be eligible for treatment in hospitals or centres under the emergency scheme, in so far as facilities are available. Whole-time paid civil defence personnel will also be included in these arrangements. As in the case of certain classes of the civil population who are under existing arrangements admitted to hospitals in the scheme for general treatment, the patient admitted under the new scheme will be expected to contribute through any contributory association to which he may belong, or if he is not a member of such an association, to pay such amount as he can reasonably afford towards the cost of his treatment, according to ordinary hospital practice. I may also add that the ordinary practice in Scottish hospitals will continue.
§ Major MilnerWill the same opportunities be available for Civil Defence workers?
§ Major MilnerWill they not be available for part-time Civil Defence workers?
§ Sir Francis FremantleWill these excellent arrangements be extended not only to fracture cases but to many other cases which require the same treatment, and rehabilitation, and are equally important, and will my right hon. Friend avoid a duplicate organisation?
§ Mr. BrownThere has been no duplicate organisation. My hon. Friend will 1156 know that the number of first-class hospitals with first-class equipment and surgeons with special qualifications is limited. What we have to do is to use those le-sources to the maximum extent in order to get those injured in industries vital to the war effort and whole-time Civil Defence workers back to their posts at the earliest possible moment. That is the prime intention.