§ 41. Sir Leonard Lyleasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction which is caused by the present arrangement under which only those emergency service hospitals who have 20 per cent. or more Service cases can apply for an additional allowance of meat to enable them to give adequate rations to Service patients; and whether steps can now be taken to ensure that these hospitals are given the right to obtain full Service rations for their Service patients so that they will not have to draw on their civilian ration quotas in order to give adequate nourishment to wounded Service men.
§ Mr. WillinkNo, Sir. Apart from one or two individual complaints I have no evidence of dissatisfaction with the arrangement under which the increased allowance of meat is not given to hospitals with less than 20 per cent. Service patients. In such hospitals I am advised that the rationed and unrationed foods available should provide a proper dietary for both Service and civilian patients. This, however, is one of the matters kept under observation by my officers who inspect the feeding arrangements in E.M.S. hospitals.
§ Sir L. LyleMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether it is reasonable to ask hospitals to take Service cases and not give them Service rations, thereby forcing them to draw on the civilian ration for those patients? The hospitals are having a difficult enough time anyhow.
§ Mr. WillinkThis matter is very carefully watched, but I can assure my hon. Friend that there are in present circumstances a very substantial number of Service patients in the emergency service hospitals who are not ready to take or enjoy even the civilian ration.