§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Health in view of his policy that medical practitioners are in a position to judge in particular cases the relative merits of medication and dietary measures, to what extent dietary measures can be paid for under the National Health Service Scheme; and whether this includes payments in respect of diets involving moderate amounts of alcohol for tonic purposes.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe hospital service meets the cost of feeding patients including alcoholic beverages if they are prescribed individually on medical grounds. Foods cannot be provided under the general practitioner service, but local health authorities may provide them as part of their arrangements for the care and aftercare of sick persons. They may recover reasonable charges, having regard to the means of the persons concerned. Any arrangements made by local authorities would, however, be very unlikely to include the provision of foods containing alcohol.