§ Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that considerable alarm is being expressed by the medical profession owing to the fact that the treatment of tuberculosis in the country is at a standstill; that cases of open tuberculosis have been sent home to act as sources of infection; that no provision is being made at many sanatoria for the outpatient treatment of summarily discharged cases; and whether he will take action to remedy this?
§ Mr. ElliotThere is no question of the treatment of tuberculosis being at a standstill. Whilst it has been necessary for such tuberculosis institutions as were included in the emergency hospitals scheme to keep a certain number of beds available for casualties, any consumptive requiring institutional treatment ought to be receiving it. Letters are now being sent to a number of these institutions releasing them for the present from any obligation to keep even a percentage of beds available under the emergency scheme and these institutions will therefore be able to take in patients exactly as in normal times. Any discharged persons suffering from tuberculosis who would benefit by further treatment in an institution or who would act as sources of infection in their homes should at once be re-admitted.
I may add, in reply to the third part of the question, that the care and attention of tuberculous persons living at home is not at any time a normal function of a sanatorium, except at a few special institutions, but is undertaken by the 1229W family medical attendant and the tuberculosis dispensary organisation acting in co-operation.