§ 44. Mr. Bartle Bullasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the surgical staff in hospitals in the C.M.F. is sufficient to deal with the casualties; and whether he is aware that at one hospital in the C.M.F. there are or were only one or two surgical specialists who were responsible for over 2,000 beds, out of which there was an average of 900 surgical cases?
§ Sir J. GriggThe answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes, Sir," with the general qualification that owing to the universal shortage of doctors the Army cannot have as many doctors as it would like, and with the particular qualification that when Armies move across the sea, as in the case of our Forces which invaded Sicily and Italy, hospitals must necessarily be closed during the voyage and until they are established on the other side. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No, Sir," and I should be grateful if my hon. Friend would forward me particulars.
§ Sir J. GriggThank you.
§ 56. Mr. Bullasked the Secretary of State for War the average time spent in hospital by a soldier suffering from venereal disease in the C.M.F.; and are adequate facilities provided in forward areas for the immediate treatment of these cases so that they do not become resistant to treatment owing to constant re-evacuation and spasmodic treatment?
§ Sir J. GriggA soldier who has to be sent to a hospital suffering from venereal disease spends on the average 22 days there. But adequate facilities are normally available in the forward area for cases which do not require specialist treatment in hospital.