§ 32. Mr. McKINLAYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that patients from the Partick district of Glasgow, until recently inmates of Shieldhall Fever Hospital, have complained of the food supplied and that the wards are infested with vermin; and what steps he proposes to take to have the matter rectified?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Westwood)I have no knowledge of complaints by patients who have recently been in Shieldhall Infectious Diseases Hospital in regard to the food supplied, which is drawn from the same sources as that supplied to other institutions under the Public Health Department of Glasgow. As regards infestation of the wards with vermin, I am informed that certain portions of the hospital have for some time been invaded by email red ants, which established themselves in the kitchen and along the duets of certain of the wards. Substantial repairs to the kitchen have resulted in their disappearance from that area, but up till now efforts to eradicate them from the ducts of the wards have not been so successful. It is hoped, however, that further improvement will be effected by measures which are being taken under the direction of a medical officer who has had special experience in connection with insect pests.
§ Mr. McKINLAYIs my hon. Friend aware that the superintendent has since reported that the only method of dealing with this hospital is total demolition? I did not question the source of the food supply, but the quantity and quality of the food supplied to the patients.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODSeeing that these are red ants, may I ask if they come from Russia?
§ Mr. WESTWOODWe have no indication as to where they came from, but the medical officer who is responsible for their eradication is Dr. Gunn, and he will do his best to eradicate them.