HC Deb 19 June 1952 vol 502 cc1535-7
3. Dr. Broughton

asked the Minister of Health how many patients suffering from tuberculosis in England and Wales are awaiting admission to sanatoria or hospitals.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The latest ascertained figure was 7,096 at 31st December last. It is probably rather less now.

Dr. Broughton

Is the Minister prepared to receive and to consider suggestions for overcoming the administrative difficulty to allow these unfortunate sufferers relief from the charge for prescriptions?

Mr. Macleod

I am always prepared to receive any suggestion of that nature. It is true that the figures have dropped dramatically since their peak of 11,000 in, I think, 1949.

Mr. Remnant

To what extent is this difficulty due to shortage of staff rather than to shortage of beds?

Mr. Macleod

The waiting list has lessened a great deal. The principal reasons are the improved recruiting of nurses; to some extent a special drive to set beds apart, and some extent the new treatments which are being used.

Mr. Shurmer

Would the Minister not consider again sending patients out to Switzerland in view of the fact that there are many empty beds there and that the cost is no more in Switzerland than in this country?

Mr. Macleod

I am always prepared to look at the matter.

7. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that persons coming from abroad to seek work in this country may be suffering from active respiratory tuberculosis; and what steps he proposes to take to exclude those who suffer from this infectious disease.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I am considering again with the other Ministers concerned whether further steps should be taken.

Dr. Stross

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the matter is urgent and that there are cases that have come to our, and I am sure to his, notice of acutely infected people coming in who transmit this rather dreadful disease?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, Sir. There is a check upon aliens but, as the hon. Member knows, that might well not reveal the presence of the disease which concerns him. The organised groups of European volunteer workers are subject to X-ray examination, and the question of the remainder is under discussion between myself and the other Ministers concerned.

Dr. Stross

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind cases from Eire, too, where no such checks have existed?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, Sir.

Sir H. Williams

Will my right hon. Friend make certain that he does not incur any retaliatory action from Switzerland?

37. Miss Ward

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the fact that less money per tuberculosis patient is spent on those in hospital in the area of the Newcastle Regional Board than in any other part of the country and the fact that the incidence of tuberculosis on Tyneside is in excess of the incidence in the rest of the country, he will make inquiries as to whether further efforts should not be made to deal with this disease.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I understand that facilities in this area have been steadily increasing and that the number of beds available in the region has gone up since the end of 1949 by nearly 17 per cent. and is now higher than the national average in relation to population. I shall continue to keep the matter under review.

Miss Ward

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that answer is no answer at all to the Question? Will he bear in mind that we have less money in our region than has any other region, and that we have not our fair share? What action has been taken as a result of the Adjournment debate initiated by the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Short), supported by myself, last March, on the incidence of tuberculosis on Tyneside?

Mr. Macleod

The details of the Adjournment debate to which my hon. Friend refers are not in my mind at the moment. I will certainly look it up, but I should have thought it a fallacy to judge the efficiency of this or any other treatment which is necessary by the amount of money recorded in relation to each patient.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Is the Minister aware that while we are all anxious to press forward even more rapidly with work in this field, we are all gratified at the very real advances made during the last two or three years?

Mr. Macleod indicated assent.