§ Mr. Messerasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the difficulty being experienced by management boards of old people's homes in obtaining the transfer of residents who fall sick to hospitals; and if it would be possible for arrangements to be made to ensure the admission of sick old people to hospital and there replacement by able-bodied old people.
§ Mr. BevanI am aware of the difficulty of securing admission of the aged sick to hospitals, but this is a problem which extends to the sick population generally and is primarily due to staff shortage. I could not undertake to make special priority arrangements for the one class of patient to the detriment of others who need hospital treatment, but I trust that hospitals will do all they can to help.
156W
§ Mr. Messerasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that some voluntary organisations are deferring the setting up of homes for old sick people owing to their doubt as to whether such homes would come under the Regional Hospital Board; and if he will make clear the position of such non-profit-making establishments.
§ Mr. BevanI know that doubts have been expressed. The position is that if a non-profit making home exists to provide medical or nursing care for old sick people it in future becomes the responsibility of the hospital service, unless specially disclaimed by me. This does not mean that a home existing for the aged non-sick is precluded from arranging minor facilities for minor ailments or, for example, the periodic visiting of a doctor. But if it becomes a place whose function is essentially the care of the sick the position is as above.