§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health how he reconciles the instructions that the seriously injured are to be taken direct to hospitals and not to first-aid posts with the terms of Memorandum E.M.S. 4 issued by his Department?
§ Mr. ElliotAlthough the first-aid posts are intended primarily for the lightly injured, it is recognised that some of the more serious cases may require early treatment at first-aid posts in certain circumstances, for example, if the nearest casualty receiving hospital is much farther away than the first-aid post and the patient appears to require immediate treatment. This is indicated in the opening paragraph of E.M.S. Memorandum No. 4.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health what qualifications his medical officers have for their appointment as inspectors of first-aid posts; what procedure these medical officers adopt in connection with their inspections; and who decides upon and authorises such changes or adjustments as may be found necessary or desirable?
§ Mr. ElliotThe medical officers of my Department who inspect first-aid posts are specially experienced in the organisation of casualty services. In making their inspections they adopt such procedure as in their judgment is best suited to the circumstances of the area. Any changes or adjustments are normally settled by them on the spot, in agreement with the medical officers of health, who are assisted by the medical officers appointed to each post, but if necessary they are the subject of communications between the responsible local authority and myself.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether the Central Medical War Committee is the same as the Central Emergency Committee of the British Medical Association, having regard to the answer on the 16th November, 1939, and the statements made in the British Medical Association circular D.17/1939–40?
§ Mr. ElliotThe Central Emergency Committee assumed the functions of the Central Medical War Committee shortly after the outbreak of war.