asked the Minister for Health if he will state the number of beds provided for tuberculosis patients in each year from 1945 to 1958, inclusive, and the amount paid in maintenance allowances in each of these years.
Written Answers. - Beds for Tuberculosis Patients.
19.
The following table shows the number of beds provided for tuberculosis (respiratory and non-respiratory) patients during the years 1945 to 1958. The drop in the number of beds provided in 1955 and subsequently reflects the drop in demand. There was no effective waiting list for some time before that year or since.
|
Year |
Beds Provided |
|
1945 |
3,000—3,300 (estimated) (a) |
|
1946 |
|
|
1947 |
|
|
1948 |
3,900 (b) |
|
1949 |
4,800 |
|
1950 |
5,677 |
|
1951 |
6,265 |
|
1952 |
6,406 |
|
1953 |
6,848 |
|
1954 |
6,945 |
|
1955 |
6,888 |
|
1956 |
6,101 |
|
1957 |
5,457 |
|
1958 |
4,806 |
(a) Exact number not available.
(b) Figures for 1948 and each subsequent year based on average number of tuberculosis beds available at end of each month during the year.
Statutory provision for the payment of cash allowances to persons suffering from certain infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, was first made in Section 44 of the Health Act, 1947; this scheme of allowances came into operation on 1st March, 1948. The following table shows the total amounts paid by health authorities under the scheme—mainly to tuberculosis sufferers—during the period 1st to 31st March, 1948, and each subsequent financial year to the 31st March, 1958.
|
Period |
Amount |
|
£ |
|
|
1st to 31st March, 1948 |
5,700 |
|
Year ended 31st March— |
|
|
1949 |
284,000 |
|
1950 |
412,600 |
|
1951 |
483,700 |
|
1952 |
524,000 |
|
1953 |
528,000 |
|
1954 |
547,200 |
|
1955 |
576,200 |
|
1956 |
597,200 |
|
1957 |
548,200 |
|
1958 |
461,100 |