HC Deb 24 January 1951 vol 483 c36W
Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Health how many individuals suffering from tuberculosis in Kent were awaiting admission to a sanatorium at the last convenient date.

Mr. Marquand

The latest figures available, pending completion of hospital returns for 1950, relate to 31st December, 1949, when tuberculosis patients on the registers of chest clinics in Kent who were awaiting institutional treatment numbered 520.

Dr. Broughton

asked the Minister of Health how many medical officers were employed on full-time duties in the treatment of patients suffering from tuberculosis on 1st January, 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively.

Mr. Marquand

On 31st December, 1948, there were 335 whole-time medical officers of all grades specialising in diseases of the chest on the staff of hospitals and clinics in the National Health Service. The corresponding figure for 1949 was 477. The figure for 1950 is not yet available.

Dr. Broughton

asked the Minister of Health what is the average length of time spent by tuberculosis patients in sanatoria; what is the number of patients who insisted upon discharge from sanatoria contrary to medical advice during the past 12 months; and how many of these latter had tuberculosis in an active and infectious form.

Mr. Marquand

It would need a special and extensive inquiry to obtain this information, and I doubt whether the value of the result would justify the labour and expense involved.