HC Deb 08 January 1942 vol 377 cc10-1
13. Mr. Parker

asked the Minister of Health the number of deaths from tuberculosis, and the death rate based on number of residents, in the county and borough mental hospitals of England and Wales in 1938, 1939 and 1940, giving figures for males and females separately?

Mr. E. Brown

As the reply involves a tabular statement, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Would my right hon. Friend be kind enough to publish the figures in the annual report of his Department?

Mr. Brown

There is another Question on that subject.

Following is the statement:

Hospital Scheme to insure the proper rehabilitation of injured persons in addition to their surgical treatment, in order to give them the best prospect of returning to normal life and employment?

Mr. E. Brown

It is one of the first considerations of the scheme to ensure that the injured person is as fully restored to normal function as his injury allows, before discharge from hospital. To that end the scheme includes a widespread organisation of special treatment centres for fracture and orthopaedic cases, providing as part of remedial treatment the most up-to-date methods of rehabilitation—including massage and physio-therapy, exercises, games and recreations, light workshop and other handicrafts and other forms of occupational therapy. This organisation works mainly through 21 special orthopaedic centres and 56 special fracture departments, apart from special centres for other types of injury and arrangements at numerous hospitals and clinics for short stay cases and out-patient treatment. It has as its purpose general rehabilitation up to the point at which the patient is ready to resume his normal life or to undergo vocational training or any other special preparation for employment that may be necessary. To ensure a proper link between the latter type of training or preparation and hospital treatment, it has been arranged for a local officer of the Ministry of Labour to interview the patient while he is still in hospital and to advise, in consultation with his medical attendant, on the course best suited to his case after discharge from hospital.

Sir Francis Fremantle

Does the rehabilitation include cases of speech therapy?

Mr. Brown

I would like special notice of that Question, but I think it does.