HL Deb 14 July 1948 vol 157 cc830-2

2.44 p.m.

LORD MANCROFT rose to ask His Majesty's Government whether the freedom of patients under the National Health Service Scheme to choose the type of artificial limbs which they desire to have will be extended to ex-Service men supplied with artificial limbs by the Ministry of Pensions. The noble Lord said: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Bridgeman, I beg leave to ask the question standing in his name. Your Lordships may have noticed that the wording of this question has been changed from that which was originally put down three weeks ago, and I would like to explain why that has been done. Under the original scheme put forward by the Minister of Health, in accordance with the provisions of the National Health Act, the supply of artificial limbs for all those entitled to receive them was handed over to the Ministry of Pensions to be administered under their Roehampton organisation. Without levelling any criticism at the Roehampton Scheme, I should explain that that decision would have produced this unhappy result. It would nave resulted in the forcing out of business of all the private firms which were hitherto making artificial limbs, and which were not under contract as part of the Government's scheme. It would also have resulted in a complete monopoly springing up in favour of the two firms which were under contract to the Government. The result of that would have been that those who had their artificial limbs made by a private non-contracting firm would eventually be compelled to change their limbs to Roehampton limbs, because the private firms would no longer be able to maintain and repair the limbs which they had originally supplied.

I think your Lordships will agree that in so personal a matter as an artificial limb, that is a highly undesirable state of affairs. Further, the creation of a Government monopoly would have been very detrimental to that progress in the face of competition which is so essential in a technical matter such as this. It was, if I may say so, a particularly callous example of something of which we have seen a great deal too much recently—namely, the sacrifice of the individual upon the altar of administrative tidiness. As your Lordships will recall, there was immediately an outcry about it: there were letters in The Times, public protest meetings by ex-Service men's organisations, and my noble friend Lord Bridgeman and I put the original question on the Order Paper in an attempt to have the matter cleared up.

The Government, however (all to their credit) changed their mind, and on July 1 in another place the then Minister of Pensions made a statement, which was, in fact, a complete reversal of the Government's policy. They have now issued the necessary statutory instrument for the implementation of that new policy. The purpose of this question is to find out what is the position in regard to ex-Service men. So far as I can see, they are not covered by the Minister of Pensions' statement, and they are not provided for by the statutory instrument. I think your Lordships will agree that it is most important that ex-Service men, who constitute such a large percentage of those involved, should be properly looked after. It would be very unjust indeed if the freedom of choice which is granted to civilians and their right to have those limbs supplied free by the Government, should not been tended to ex-Service men. It is in order to try and clear this matter up that this question has been put down. An assurance has been given in public by the present Minister of Pensions—and I have seen it reported, I think in the Daily Worker—that it will probably be done. My noble friends and I, however, feel that this matter should receive a definite and conclusive explanation. There are now limbless veterans of three wars to be considered. I think your Lordships will agree that the welfare of limbless ex-Service men constitutes a heavy charge upon the public conscience. For that reason, I very much hope that the Government to-day will be able to give a sympathetic and satisfactory answer to this question.

LORD MORRISON

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Mancroft, has given a reasonable and fair account of the present position. Under the National Health Service an artificial limb, where required, will be supplied free. Normally, the limb will be of the same type as the limb now supplied to disabled ex-Service men by the Ministry of Pensions through their own contactors. But under arrangements recently concerted, to which the noble Lord has just referred, between the Ministry of Pensions and the manufacturers of artificial limbs not at present contracting to the Ministry, it will be possible for an individual to elect to be fitted with another make of limb approved by the Ministry, provided that he accepts responsibility for any increased cost on this account. This option will be available to all patients eligible under the National Health Service, including disabled ex-Service men.

LORD LLEWELLIN

My Lords, I am sure that many noble Lords who have had this matter much at heart are deeply gratified by the answer just given. We want all these men to have freedom of choice as to the kind of limb they will use. I am certain that the extension of this option will be welcomed throughout all ranks of ex-Service men.

LORD WEBB-JOHNSON

My Lords, I am little versed in the usages and customs of your Lordships' House, and I would claim your indulgence in expressing the satisfaction which will be felt by all practising surgeons at the Government's answer to-day. This question has been a source of great anxiety to us, not only on account of the patients of the moment, but also because of the possibility of preventing developments in the future. I fear that I may be transgressing the rules of the House, but I implore your Lordships' indulgence, as I wished to express my satisfaction with the answer given.

LORD MORRISON

My Lords, I should like to thank both noble Lords, and particularly the noble Lord who has just joined our assembly and thus early made his maiden speech on such an appropriate topic, of which he has full knowledge. I am sure I am echoing the wish of every noble Lord when I say that I hope on many future occasions we may have the pleasure of his counsel.