§ 35. Sir I. Fraserasked the Minister of Health what administrative action he has taken to ensure that war pensioners requiring hospital treatment do not lose the priorities that were previously afforded in special Ministry of Pensions hospitals.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodSpecial hospitals for war pensioners have so far continued to be administered directly by my Department and war pensioners have continued to have first call on their services. Where units in other hospitals have been transferred to the administration of the local hospital authority, I have required the same priority to be maintained, and I shall do so if and where whole hospitals are transferred in the future. In addition, as my hon. Friend will know, since August, 1953, war pensioners requiring treatment for their accepted disability have enjoyed priority at all National Health Service Hospitals, subject only to the needs of emergency and other urgent cases.
§ Sir I. FraserDoes my right hon. Friend think that the appointment by regional hospital boards of persons known to the ex-Service world, particularly perhaps to members of the British Legion or other responsible organisations, would give confidence to the ex-Service men that these priorities have been carried out?
§ Mr. MacleodI am sure these priorities are being carried out. I think perhaps it will meet the point my hon. Friend has in mind to say that, if and when these hospitals come into the ordinary stream of hospital administration, we shall take care to see that, where appropriate, some members of the committees are representatives of the bodies concerned with the welfare of ex-Service men.