§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government if, when the relatives so request, they will pay the cost of the conveyance of the bodies of patients who have died in hospitals at a distance from their homes.]
§ LORD NEWTONMy Lords, where a patient dies in a hospital at some distance from his home, the hospital authority has power to pay for conveying the body home, if the relatives cannot meet the cost and the patient was admitted for treatment which could not be given in a hospital serving his own area.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the hospitals' use of their discretionary powers varies very considerably? Some suggest that burials should take place in the area where death occurs, but others, even after the families have proved that they cannot pay, still will not defray the cost of transport. Does the noble Lord not think that the Minister should have some real definition in this matter so that there is a uniform practice and very poor people may be assured that their relatives can be brought home?
§ LORD NEWTONMy Lords, my impression is that this scheme does, in fact. 260 work very well. It has been in being since the start of the National Health Service, and there have not been many complaints. My right honourable friend, however, always looks into any complaints that are made to him, and if the noble Lord has any particular cases in mind I shall be very glad to look into them.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, in view of the noble Lord's answer to the supplementary question, may I ask him Whether he would, with his Ministers, consider the position of the relatives of soldiers, sailors and airmen who die overseas in course of duty? As the noble Lord is aware—I am sure he is aware of it—these persons who die overseas are buried at the overseas station. In many cases parents would wish to bring them home, particularly as many of the countries in which they are buried are becoming independent and are no longer within what we call the Commonwealth. Would the Minister undertake to consider this important matter on behalf of the relatives?
§ LORD NEWTONMy Lords, I think this is really a very different matter, but I will certainly see that What the noble Lord has said is considered by whichever of my right honourable friends is responsible.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his answer to me. Does he realise that the Question is based on actual unsatisfied complaints, which I shall be glad if he will look into? The real point at issue is this. There is no charge on the relatives when a patient is brought back from a distant hospital alive, and it is difficult to understand why there should be a charge to the relatives when the patient is brought back dead.
§ LORD NEWTONMy Lords, I should have thought there was all the difference in the world between being alive and dead. But, as I said, I shall be very glad to look into the case if the noble Lord cares to let me have the details.