HC Deb 23 August 1945 vol 413 cc854-5W
Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) for what period the Army Council accepts responsibility for Army personnel who enter hospital in this country before a medical board is called upon to decide whether they will be discharged;

(2) whether, when a medical board decides that a man who is still unfit to go home on leave must be discharged from the Army, he will be given a credit for his 56 days' pay and allowances plus any additional day for overseas service to which he is entitled;

(3) whether, in view of the fact that the 56 days' leave with pay and allowances, together with an additional day with pay and allowances for each month of service overseas given on demobilisation, was announced as being given in order that soldiers might rehabilitate themselves in civil life, he will secure that no man serving in the Army will be com- pelled to spend his demobilisation leave in hospital, as is the case with many of them at present.

Mr. Bellenger

As already announced, a disabled officer or soldier who is due for discharge from the Army on medical grounds, or for release in his turn, will not be discharged or released, if he is in course of in-patient hospital treatment in a. Service or E.M.S. hospital, until at least eight months, including 56 days' notice leave, have elapsed from the date of his first absence from duty on account of the disability. This period will be extended by any overseas service leave to which he is entitled.

I regret very much that in some cases the release and overseas service leave should be spent in hospital, but it is clearly impracticable to authorise indefinite retention in the Service. I am, however, looking into the matter generally.

A medical board may be held at any time after a soldier's admission to hospital, but should discharge on invaliding grounds be recommended the man if under treatment will be retained in hospital as I have indicated. If it has not been held earlier, a medical board is assembled on an officer after six weeks' absence from duty and on any other rank after five months' absence from duty.