§ 54. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement regarding revised arrangements for keeping the nearest relatives of soldiers in hospital informed about their condition.
§ Mr. HeadWhen a soldier is admitted to hospital as a battle casualty or suffering from an injury resulting in the loss of an eye or limb or is dangerously ill or seriously ill, the next-of-kin is automatically informed. In cases of serious mental illness a letter is sent to the next-of-kin, but otherwise it is left to the man himself to decide who should be notified. He is given a free postcard with which to inform them and help in completing postcards when necessary is always available.
§ Mr. BrockwayIn view of the circumstances in the two cases which I raised during the Army Estimates debates, will the right hon. Gentleman go into this matter a little further in order to see that when men are ill in hospital someone should volunteer in the ward to write letters to their relatives if they so desire?
§ Mr. HeadYes, Sir. There are means whereby somebody can write a letter, but to make it statutory for the Army to inform the parents would not be right, nor in all cases would it be popular with the men concerned.