83. Miss Wardasked the Minister of Health what ruling the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board has received from his Department in respect of the case of a Durham miner, crippled for life, who has been told a charge of £2 5s. a week will be imposed by the Durham County Hospital for equipment for him to be nursed at home, whereas if he returned to hospital the charge to the State would be over £10 per week.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe Regional Hospital Board were informed that in my view it was one of the functions of the County Council, as local health authority under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, to provide equipment for use in the home and to make such charges (if any) as they considered reasonable, having regard to the person's means. I should add that the232W proposed charge of £2 5s., which is made by the County Council, not by the hospital, is for a month.