§ 24. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of of Health what instructions have been issued by his Department or by any regional hospitals board to any hospital to reduce the use of penicillin on the ground of expense; and if he will give an assurance that the use of drugs under the National Health Service lies entirely within the discretion of doctors.
§ Mr. BevanNo such instruction has been issued, either by me or by any regional hospital board, and the matter is one entirely at the discretion of the doctor.
§ Mr. SwinglerWill my right hon. Friend now request, very courteously, a Member of another place either to substantiate or to have the common decency to withdraw his allegation?
§ Mr. BevanI do not propose to enter into any communication with the noble Lord in this matter. If he will send me the precise information upon which he bases his very serious allegation I will have inquiries made. In the absence of this information I can only ask the country to take no notice of such irresponsible statements.
§ Mr. NicholsonIs the Minister aware that some people are allergic to penicillin, and that the administration of it does them definite harm; and are any steps being taken to see that doctors do not administer it when the patients tells them that he is allergic to it?