HC Deb 05 December 1944 vol 406 cc375-6W
Mr. Pritt

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in a hospital in the Mediterranean area, the name of which has been given to him, only four stethoscopes are provided for the use of 35 doctors, to the serious hindrance of their work; that no replacements are available when the stethoscopes become unserviceable and that there is no source from which doctors can obtain more even at their own expense; whether similar conditions obtain in other hospitals; and what steps he will take to put the matter right.

Sir J. Grigg

A doctor is normally expected to have his own stethoscope and the facts given in the first part of the hon. Member's Question are in accordance with the scales laid down. As far as I am aware all demands for stethoscopes forwarded from North Africa and Italy since early in 1943 have been met, and I am inquiring whether doctors are in fact finding any difficulty in getting replacements.