§ 86. Mr. Astorasked the Minister of Health whether he will make arrangements whereby, in maternity cases, when either the matron of a hospital or a patient's doctor certifies that the birth is imminent and no bed is available under the National Health Service, the patient can be reimbursed for expenses incurred in obtaining medical care privately.
76W
§ Mr. BevanThe primary use of hospital maternity beds must be for mothers needing institutional confinement. The domiciliary maternity services are available without charge to the remainder. I have no power to make payments in the manner suggested.