HC Deb 30 April 1953 vol 514 c2344
41. Dr. Broughton

asked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take towards reducing the incidence of food poisoning of bacterial origin among patients and staff in hospitals.

Mr. Iain Macleod

A memorandum giving practical guidance on this subject is at present being prepared and will be circulated to hospital authorities as soon as possible.

Dr. Broughton

While thanking the Minister for that answer, may I ask him whether he does not consider it advisable that he should not only draw the attention of the hospital authorities to the risk of food poisoning in their institutions but that he should also stress to them the need for strict hygienic conditions in the storing, preparing and serving of the food, in view of the fact that in the latest report of his Ministry it is stated that there were 40 outbreaks of food poisoning in hospitals in England and Wales in 1951?

Mr. Macleod

Yes, I agree. Those sorts of matters will be covered in the instructions that I am giving as a result of an undertaking I gave in this House.

Mr. Ian Harvey

Will the Minister draw this memorandum to the attention of former Socialist Ministers who from time to time have to eat their own words?