§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that during the past 14 months some 370 men have taken their discharge from the Ministry institution for neurasthenics; how many were discharged at their own request; what were the principal reasons given for desiring discharge; whether he is aware that some of the men are more than 350 miles from their homes; and if he can arrange for men from Scotland, Ireland and the North of England to be placed in an institution nearer their homes?
§ Major TRYONThe hon. and gallant Member refers, I presume, to the Ministry Institution at Saltash. During the past 14 months 310 patients (not 370 as stated in the question) have been discharged from this institution. Of these 171 either discharged themselves contrary to medical advice or did not return from the leave that had been granted them. No record is kept of the reasons for the discharge in the latter cases, but I am advised that they are ordinarily accounted for by the mental instability and restlessness associated with the condition for which they are receiving treatment. It is the policy of the Ministry as far as possible, and subject to medical requirements, to treat neurasthenic cases in institutions near their homes, and in fact out of 791 cases of neurasthenia under treatment from each of the portions of the kingdom1138W referred to in the question the great majority are in institutions in those parts and only 37 are at Saltash.