§ 19. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the young Sutherland woman, who is suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis and of whom he has particulars, has been waiting over a year and a half for a bed in Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen, where she will undergo an operation for resection of ribs; and, in view of the fact that this lady was first admitted to Cambusavie Hospital in November, 1950, and discharged after seven months' treatment, readmitted in March, 1952, and discharged after 15 months' treatment, if he will take immediate steps to have the operation carried out at Woodend Hospital or elsewhere.
Commander GalbraithThoracic surgery facilities in the north of Scotland have, unfortunately, been very limited, and a considerable waiting list has arisen. The Scottish Branch of the British Red Cross recently put at our disposal facilities for the purpose at their Tor-na-Dee Sanatorium, and as a result my right hon. Friend expects that delays in providing treatment will be greatly reduced. The order in which patients are admitted must, however, be left to the doctors concerned to decide in the light of relative urgency on medical grounds and other material factors.
§ Sir D. RobertsonWhy should the north of Scotland area be segregated, as it has been in the answer of my right hon. and gallant Friend? What about Glasgow, Edinburgh, London. Leeds, and all the other places where there are skilled surgeons and beds waiting? Is it not quite wrong that this young woman should be left in the serious state she is? If an operation is necessary, it should have been done 18 months' ago.
Commander GalbraithI can only repeat what I have said to my hon. Friend, that the order in which patients are admitted must be left to the doctors concerned to decide in the light of other cases of urgency.
34. Sir G. Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what developments he has to report regarding the provision of hospital treatment for tuberculosis.
Commander GalbraithThe General Nursing Council for Scotland has decided that tuberculosis nursing, for a minimum of eight weeks, should, in future, be part of the training of a student nurse for State registration. This will apply to students entering training from January, 1956, unless excused for medical reasons. My right hon. Friend welcomes the Council's decision, for it will, no doubt, result in an expansion of the nursing force trained in the care of tuberculosis.
Sir G. LloydIs my right hon. Friend aware that a great many other people in Scotland will also welcome this most intelligent decision?
§ Miss HerbisonSince the General Nursing Council has taken this decision, can we be certain that the one board in Scotland which so far has done very little about seconding nurses to this service will fall in line and ensure that at least eight weeks' training will be done in this type of nursing before going on to staff nursing?
§ Mr. N. MacphersonDoes the announcement mean that in future tuberculosis training will count as part of the general training of nurses?