§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the experience of the War has shown that acute mental cases cannot be adequately treated in general wards; and whether the fact that mental cases are distributed in the wards means that there are no acute mental cases in the Royal Navy?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACases of neurasthenia and acute mental cases are quite distinct, and are treated by quite different methods. Cases of the former are treated in general medical wards, with excellent results up to the present. Acute mental cases are treated in the special-mental wards that are provided in our three large naval hospitals. The increase in the percentage of acute mental cases in the Navy since the War began has not been very great.
§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what length of time are mental and neurasthenic patients treated in naval base hospitals before being invalided out of the Service as incurable?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo definite time can be stated for which mental and neurasthenic patients are treated before being invalided as incurable. The time of treatment depends entirely on the type of case, and, as regards insanity especially, the question arises whether a patient is not more likely to recover in Yarmouth than in a general hospital. Generally speaking, it may be said that patients are not invalided until there is no chance of recovery within a reasonable time, or until it is evident that hospital treatment is doing no good.
§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what provision is made in the case of those who have been sent home to their relatives with so-called nervous breakdown, or neurasthenia; and whether consideration is given in cases where there is a relapse which necessitates closer supervision than relatives are able to give?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf the disability is attributable to the Service, a pension under the War disablement scale is awarded in accordance with the assessment of earning incapacity when discharged (if totally incapacitated the rate1214W is 25s. a week), with allowances in respect of children and the usual additions for badges, medal, and petty time. If not attributable, the pension or gratuity to which the man is entitled in respect of his service is awarded—a life pension being awarded for over ten years' service. As to the second part of the question, if the disability is attributable, urgent cases in which the treatment required is of a temporary nature are received again into a naval hospital.