§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of National Service whether any of the provincial medical boards have had their personnel reduced from five to three members; where are such boards operating; and under what authority has this change been effected?
§ Mr. BECKI regret that the information asked for is not available. It could only be obtained by asking for daily returns, which would seriously increase the work of the already overworked medical boards. The normal National Service Medical Board consists of five doctors, but, as already stated, in times of pressure these may be reduced to three. This course is quite unavoidable, owing to the serious shortage of doctors, if the necessary men are to be obtained for the forces.
§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of National Service whether any and, if so, how many members of medical boards have resigned since the 1st November, 1917; in how many cases such resignations are due to alleged differences of opinion between the members of medical boards and the president of the board owing to his action in disregarding the opinions of members of the board and placing men in a higher grade than that in which the members of the board think the man should be placed; what proportion of men so examined are personally examined by the president; and what opportunities are afforded other members of the board of further examination or for discussion before the grade is determined by him?
§ Mr. BECKOut of some 2,500 doctors serving as members on the National Service Medical Boards, sixteen have resigned from service since November, 1917. So far as I am aware, none resigned on the grounds suggested by the hon. Member.
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§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of National Service which medical boards in the London region (designating them by such particulars as will identify them) have been reduced in number from five to three members; and under what authority was that reduction effected, in view of the assurance given to this House for the effective medical examination of those who became liable for military service under the last of the Military Service Acts as being between the ages of forty-one and fifty-one years?
§ Mr. BECKThe National Service Medical Boards at Conduit Street, which have been specially dealing with men coming under the extended age limits, have, during this temporary high pressure, necessarily been composed of three members, and it has not been practicable as yet to increase that number. With regard to the other boards in the London region, I should require to have detailed inquiries made, as the composition of the boards has varied with the pressure of recruits attending for examination, and the number of doctors available for service on the panel?