§ Mr. Denvilleasked the Secretary of State for War of how many cases he has now been informed in which accounts of civilian practitioners called to attend acute illnesses of soldiers on leave have been refused payment on the ground that such soldiers should have sought admission to 2023W the nearest military hospital, if within two miles of their residence; and what steps he has taken to deal with such accounts?
§ Mr. StanleyI am not aware of any such cases.
§ Mr. Denvilleasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Army Form O. 1667 is so worded that accounts of civilian medical practioners rendered thereon cannot be passed for payment without a certificate to the effect that there was no military hospital within two miles of the residence of the sick soldier, and that there is no provision on this form for the payments of accounts in cases of acute illness or accident to which a civilian medical practitioner is called unless the illness or accident has occurred outside this two mile limit; and what steps he proposes to remedy this anomaly?
§ Mr. StanleyI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stratford (Mr. Groves) on 27th February last. An instruction has been issued that the certificate referred to is not required in the case of men on leave.
§ Mr. Denvilleasked the Secretary of State for War what steps should be taken by a soldier taken suddenly ill while on leave to discover the whereabouts of the nearest military hospital before he is permitted to go to a civilian medical practitioner?
§ Mr. StanleyThe information is obtainable from the nearest military unit or from the nearest police station.