§ Sir G. Jeffreysasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that his predecessor, after we had been at war for more than a year, stated that it was the policy of his Department that every hospital of 300 or more beds should have a properly equipped physiotherapeutic department; that there are hospitals staffed with one or more masseuses acting under the direction of surgeons who have no specialised training in this branch of medicine; that physiotherapists are appointed to the staffs of hospitals only in the event of an application being made for such an appointment by the medical superintendent of the hospital; and will he give the lead in implementing his predecessor's pledge by directing that physiotherapists be appointed whether the medical superintendent applies or not; and whether any alien physiotherapists have been appointed to posts under the Ministry of Health?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe policy of advocating the provision of physiotherapeutic departments in all Class I hospitals with 300 or more casualty beds was announced in a circular of 25th June, 1940, a copy of which I will send to my hon. and gallant Friend, and in subsequent statements by my predecessor. I am advised that the existing methods of staffing these departments are generally satisfactory. My Department have, in a number of cases, invited hospital authorities to consider the appointment of physiotherapists, but I am satisfied that it would not be wise to insist upon such appointments against the wishes of the clinical staff of the hospital. No alien physiotherapist has yet been appointed to a post under the Ministry.