128 and 129. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Health (1) whether in view of a recent decision to accommodate tubercular patients in general hospitals, he will introduce legislation to enable him to subsidise tubercular patients recommended by local authorities for treatment in Switzerland;
(2) what is the situation with regard to tuberculosis in Northumberland; whether his attention has been drawn to a well-known sanatorium in Switzerland being available for sale; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to take advantage of such an opportunity.
§ 130. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Minister of Health whether in view of the increase in pulmonary tuberculosis in Great Britain, he will take steps to provide funds to enable tuberculosis patients in the lower income groups to undergo sanatorium treatment in Switzerland, as is at present done by Holland, and as was formerly done by our own local authorities prior to 1939.
§ Mr. BevanI cannot undertake in present circumstances to add to the cost of the health service as proposed but I have recommended to hospital authorities action for making the best use of our own resources. I am sending a copy of this to the hon. Members.
Mr. Amoryasked the Minister of Health as, since the introduction of the National Health Service Act, local authorities are no longer empowered to give grants to tuberculosis patients towards the cost of treatment abroad, whether he will take power to make such grants in view of the long waiting list for beds in tuberculosis sanatoria in this country and the fact that there are at present 1,000 beds empty in Swiss sanatoria.
123W
§ Mr. BevanI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Members for Tynemouth (Miss Ward) and Inverness (Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton).