§ 14. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that one in five child patients contract an additional illness while in hospital as is shown in the report by Dr. J. W. D. Goodall recently published in "The Lancet"; and what action he is taking to deal with this.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am aware of the article to which the hon. Member refers. On the advice of the Central Health Services Council my predecessor sent to hospital authorities last October a series of memoranda on different aspects of the prevention of cross-infection in hospitals, and hospital authorities, as their capital resources permit, are improving old-fashioned children's wards.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWhat is the Minister doing about those hospitals which are taking no action on the recommendations that his predecessor issued for the avoidance of cross-infection? After all, people go into hospital to get rid of their complaints, not to contract new ones.
§ Mr. MacleodYes, of course. I have read the article referred to, but we do not want to exaggerate the seriousness of this matter because at least half of the cross-infections are common colds. It is unquestionably true that many hospital authorities are not carrying out to the full the instructions that have been sent to them, and I am grateful to the hon. and gallant Gentleman for the publicity he has given to this matter.