§ Mr. Woodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether war pensioners requiring treatment for their war disabilities are entitled to any priority within the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisYes, they are. War pensioners who require treatment for their war disabilities are entitled to priority at NHS hospitals, subject only to the needs of emergency and other urgent cases. This priority for treatment under the NHS dates back to an undertaking given in 1953, when the special war pensioner hospitals run by the Ministry of Pensions were transferred to the National Health Service.
Hospital authorities and family practitioners were reminded of this undertaking in 1972 and 1974, but I am glad to have this further opportunity to make it quite clear that the Government stand by the promises made to the ex-Service community in 1953.