§ 26. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis notified 720 in Glasgow in the first quarter of 1953, and how this compares with each quarter of 1952 and 1951.
The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Commander T. D. Galbraith)There were 622 notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis in the first quarter of 1953, that is a higher figure than in any of the quarters in 1951 or 1952 except in the second quarter of 1951, when there were 644 notifications. With permission, I shall circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. RankinDo not the figures given by the Joint Under-Secretary indicate that, in spite of all that is alleged to be done, no effective action is yet being taken to reduce the figures which are obviously on the increase? When do the Government propose to take effective action to deal with this increasing scourge?
Commander GalbraithThe hon. Member must know that, as the result of new procedures, notifications are bound to be more frequent than in the past.
§ Following are the details:
| NOTIFICATIONS OF RESPIRATORY TUBERCULOSIS IN GLASGOW BY QUARTERS SINCE 1ST JANUARY. 1951 | |||||
| Quarter | … | … | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 |
| First | … | … | 567 | 547 | 622 |
| Second | … | … | 644 | 605 | — |
| Third | … | … | 514 | 519 | — |
| Fourth | … | … | 496 | 595 | — |
§ 27. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds are available, per 100 new notifications, for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in the whole of Scotland, and in the area under the Western Regional Hospital Board.
Commander GalbraithTaking beds available at the end of 1952, wherever situated, and notifications during that year, the ratio was about 82 beds per 100 notifications for Scotland as a whole, and about 77 beds per 100 notifications for the Western Region alone.
§ Mr. RankinIs the Joint Under-Secretary aware that the incidence of T.B. is most heavily felt in the area of the Western Regional Hospital Board? What 721 does he propose to do to give more hospital accommodation in the area where the disease is pressing most severely?
Commander GalbraithIt is really not so much a question of getting beds as finding nurses to staff them. If the hon. Gentleman can help us we shall be most grateful.