HC Deb 26 March 1953 vol 513 c108W
Sir G. Lloyd

asked the Minister of Health whether a local authority or a hospital board is expected to pay for equipment which, if provided to a disabled person, can permit him to be discharged from hospital thus freeing a bed for another patient.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Local health authorities have power under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, to provide home nursing equipment and to make such charges, if any, as they consider reasonable having regard to the person's means. Individually fitted surgical and medical appliances for permanent or semi-permanent use are provided through the hospital and specialist service, and hospitals may lend certain other equipment for domiciliary treatment under specialist direction.