HC Deb 25 March 1941 vol 370 cc442-3W
Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health the names of the local medical war committees whose representatives attended the meeting recently addressed by him in London and the names of such representatives; and whether the meeting was private or whether the Press was generally invited to send reporters?

Mr. E. Brown

I am not in a position to supply the information asked for in the first part of the Question. I understand that the Press was not invited to be present.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether the air-raid precautions services are to cater for casualties amongst the Home Guard as they do for civilian casualties; and, it so, whether he will cause all local authorities to be notified without delay?

Mr. Brown

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The position is being made known by my regional officers to local authorities concerned.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether consideration has been given to the co-ordination of the emergency medical services and the air-raid precautions medical services under the control of the regional commissioners for civil defence in their respective regions, so as to obviate duplication of control, to improve the medical services, and to use medical man-power better, as well as ensuring unity of control with the co-operation of the Royal Army Medical Corps?

Mr. Brown

Due provision has been made in the civil defence regions for coordinating the control of the services referred to and for securing the best use of medical man-power for either of the services in such a way as to meet the general needs of the Army and the civilian population.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health whether he is authorising air-raid precautions authorities to establish addi- tional first-aid facilities to meet the needs of Home Guard units in their areas; whether they are authorised to incur expenditure on such provision; and whether that expenditure will be repaid to them?

Mr. Brown

I am advised that additional first-aid posts are not required for the purposes indicated. The arrangements for augmenting, if necessary, the personnel attached to existing first-aid posts and for paying the necessary remuneration are being made known by my regional officers to the local authorities concerned.

Mr. Groves

asked the Minister of Health what is the fee payable for radiological examination and report on a service out-patient to voluntary hospitals, at which medical staffs are remunerated for Emergency Medical Service work on the occupied-bed basis; and why is the total fee received by the radiologist and not divided amongst the medical staff.

Mr. Brown

I will send my hon. Friend particulars of the arrangements under which fees are payable in the cases referred to. These arrangements are at present under revision.