Brigadier-General WRIGHTasked the Minister of Health the extra provision of hospital accommodation set aside in the last 12 months for the treatment of acute rheumatism among children; and what is the total number of beds so set aside?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo complete particulars are available, but as regards London, the Metropolitan Asylums Board have, during 1928, set aside 38 additional beds in their institutions for the treatment of rheumatic affections among children (including rheumatic2090W fever, acute endocarditis and chorea). The total number of beds provided by the Board for this purpose was 170 at the beginning of the present month, and they are providing 350 additional beds in buildings now in course of construction. Accommodation is also provided for children suffering from rheumatism in other hospitals, institutions, and schools for physically defective children recognised by the Board of Education, but exact particulars as to the number of beds so provided are not available. I may, however, refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the information given on page 65 of the Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of Education for the year 1926, and to pages 123 and 124 of the Report for the year 1927. Reference may also be made to page 211 of the Report of the Chief Medical Officer of my Department for the year 1927.
Brigadier-General WRIGHTasked the Minister of Health exactly what treatment can be obtained under the National Health Insurance Acts by persons suffering from different forms of rheumatism?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAll insured persons in Great Britain (with almost negligible exception of voluntary contributors with an income exceeding £250 a year) are entitled to medical benefit. Under this benefit, insured persons suffering from any form of rheumatism are entitled to receive from insurance practitioners all such treatment as the practitioners consider to be proper and necessary, except treatment involving the application of special skill and experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners as a class cannot reasonably be expected to possess. Further, if an insured person who is a member of an Approved Society which has adopted additional benefit No. 10 receives treatment as an in-patient of a hospital, the Society may make payment towards the cost of his maintenance and treatment. Finally, as soon as suitable arrangements can be made under additional benefits Nos. 8 and 16, it will be open to Societies which adopt those benefits to make payment towards the cost of any special form of treatment of rheumatism (not included under either of the heads referred to above) either by a registered medical practitioner in 2091W accordance with an approved special scheme, or through the agency of an approved charitable institution.