HC Deb 29 April 1947 vol 436 cc1712-4
37 and 38. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he is aware that Baragwanath British Military Hospital Johannesburg, has been taken over for other purposes; that, as a result, tuberculous British military patients there have been ordered immediately to return to England at risk to their lives; and if he will provide alternative hospital accommodation for them in South Africa, the climate of which is favourable to their recovery;

(2) if he is aware that 4276108 Gunner W. Plews, of Aberdeen, details of whose case have been sent to him, who contracted tuberculosis while serving with the Gordon Highlanders during the war, is, against his will and at danger to his life, under orders to travel immediately from Johannesburg to England although he is physically unfit to travel; and if he will countermand this order immediately so that Gunner Plews may be allowed to remain and given the opportunity of recovery in South Africa.

96. Sir Peter Macdonald

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider his decision to close Baragwanath Hospital, South Africa, in August, 1947, and to bring back the patients to this country, having regard to the possibility of another severe winter and the continued restrictions in heating and food which may have an adverse effect on the health of these patients, many of whom are suffering from tuberculosis; and if he will arrange for this hospital to remain open for at least another year.

Mr. Bellenger

These hospital buildings are shortly due to be handed back to the South African Government by whom they are urgently required as a hospital for South African tuberculosis patients. A number of the British military patients at present in the hospital have elected to take their discharge in South Africa. Of the remainder, those who are fit to make the journey will be brought to this country in a hospital ship specially equipped and staffed for this purpose. On arrival, those who still require treatment will be admitted to sanatoria near their homes. Patients who are not considered fit to travel will be transferred to other hospitals in South Africa. There is no question of a risk to their lives. I am satisfied that, apart from those who wish to take their discharge in South Africa, the vast majority of the patients are anxious to return to this country and to be re-united with their families. In these circumstances, I am not prepared to trespass further than is necessary on the hospitality of the South African Government.

Gunner Plews has applied for discharge in South Africa but he is not eligible for this under South African Government health rules. Provided he is well enough to travel, he will be brought to the United Kingdom where he will either be discharged or admitted to a sanatorium, according to his condition. It is not the case that he is under orders at danger to his life to travel immediately to England, and I am advised that he is expected to be well enough to travel home by hospital ship. If this journey were to represent a danger to life, or if he were found to be in any way unfit for the journey, he would be kept in South Africa.

Mr. Hughes

What about those patients who are unwilling to be sent home? Are they not to be allowed to stay and take the benefit of the South African air, which is so beneficial to cases of tuberculosis? Will provision be made for them?

Mr. Bellenger

As I have said, most of these patients do not want to stay in South Africa. I have said that the few who do want to stay will be permitted to take their discharge in South Africa, and those who do not want to take their discharge in South Africa will be taken to other hospitals. We really cannot deprive the South African Government of this hospital for their own tuberculosis patients.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that henceforth there will be no overseas hospital facilities for the treatment of this disease in a suitable climate?

Mr. Bellenger

Medical opinion is not certain that the South African climate is so much better than the climate in parts of this country. What happened was that owing to the fact that these patients could not go through the Mediterranean they were sent to South Africa during the war, and the South African Government very kindly placed this hospital accommodation at our disposal. These men will be very well looked after by the Army.

Mr. Walkden

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many years ago trade union leaders from South Africa suffering from phthisis and tuberculosis came to this country to help them to get cured? Where does the evidence come from that it is better for our people to go to South Africa to be cured?

Major Legge-Bourke

Bearing in mind the great shortage of accommodation in civil sanatoria for tuberculosis cases, can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that none of these men will be transported back to this country until accommodation has been assured for them at this end?

Mr. Bellenger

Yes, Sir, we are making arrangements to look after these men when they come back here. The Army are going to look after them, although really it is a liability, I think, of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.

Mr. Scollan

In the case of the men who may want to come out of hospital but are not quite fit to come back into civil life in this country, will provision be made for them to enter civil life in South Africa, the same as if they were coming home?

Mr. Bellenger

It is not a matter entirely for me. We should do, and, in fact, we have done all we can to get the help of the South African Government. They have been very generous, and I do not think the House need be in any fear that any of these men who stay there or who come home will suffer.