§ 56. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Health whether he will give an estimate of the number of cases of bronchitis attending as out-patients at the hospitals under his direction which would be benefited by in-patient treatment; and whether he will make clear to regional boards that staffed wards in sanatoria for tuberculosis may, with advantage, be used for this purpose.
§ Mr. TurtonI am afraid I cannot form any useful or reliable estimate of the kind mentioned in the first part of the Question but the suggestion in the second part is being considered by my Standing Medical Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. HastingsIs it not obvious that it will be much better to treat chronic bronchitis, which is such a wasteful disease so far as work is concerned, in the fresh open air of sanatoria rather than in people's homes? Will he not give special consideration to this point himself?
§ Mr. TurtonI will give special attention to that consideration, but it is surely proper for me to get the advice of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee, which is considering this especial problem.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn view of the high incidence of chronic bronchitis in our industrial towns, will the Minister not agree that there is a degree of social responsibility involved in the matter, and that his Department should therefore associate itself more directly with the treatment for which my hon. Friend quite rightly asks?
§ Mr. TurtonThere is no dispute about this. What we are doing at the moment is to get reports from the Standing Medical Advisory Committee and the Medical Research Council on this problem of bronchitis. I hope to get these reports in a reasonable time, and when I have got them, I will see what action can be taken.
§ Mr. HastingsWill the right hon. Gentleman resist proposals to close down beds in sanatoria until he has got these reports of which he speaks?
§ Mr. TurtonThat does not seem to arise from this Question.