§ 12. Mr. Tolleyasked the Minister of Health if he will specially authorise the supply of a hearing aid to Mr. A. T. Wilkinson of 39, New Station Road, Alvechurch, Worcestershire, in view of the fact that he is 90 years of age.
§ Mr. BevanNo, Sir. It must be for the hospitals to decide on the facts of the individual case whether priority should be given.
§ Mr. TolleyWill my right hon. Friend, whom I know to be generously disposed towards matters of this kind, not give me a promise to look at this again with a view to granting the request in my Question? This man cannot have many more years to live, and it would be a good thing to enable him to spend his last few days with this hearing aid.
§ Mr. BevanI think it would be a mistake for me to try to arrange these priorities. It does not necessarily follow that a very aged person should have an aural aid before a young person whose employment makes it necessary for him to have one.