HC Deb 07 May 1953 vol 515 cc550-1
16. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health how many mass radiography units are in use in North Staffordshire at present; how many cases have been examined since the service was inaugurated; and how far workers exposed to the inhalation of irritating dust are being specifically examined.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Iain Macleod)

One unit, which has examined 48,250 people since it began work last June. Particular attention is being paid to operatives in the local pottery industry, about 16,000 of whom have been examined.

Dr. Stross

Will the Minister bear in mind that we expect a fairly high degree of interest to be taken in industrial disease in this specific area, and would he accept that it would take some years for this one unit to cover the whole population? Will he consider therefore further assistance to the unit, or a second unit being installed, and can he say whether any specific attack has been made on the problem in the coal mines?

Mr. Macleod

After what has been achieved so far I would have thought that 48,000 cases since last June is a very good result indeed. In so far as future assistance is concerned, it is more appropriate to deal with that in Question No. 18. Additional units are being distributed at the present time. The hon. Member's Question specifically concerns itself with the pottery industry, but I will look into the other matter he mentions.

Mr. Swingler

Is the Minister aware that many mine workers live in villages comparatively remote from the hospital at which the unit is stationed, and will he inquire into the possibility of making facilities especially available for these mine workers in the areas in which they live or at the pits?

Mr. Macleod

I will look into that, but this particular unit is at Stoke, which I would have thought was the obvious centre.

Miss Lee

May I repeat the request I made to the Minister the other day? Could the Minister perhaps give us a complete statement soon on the work going on by various committees on the preventive and remedial side of this disease? The Minister will see that there is a great deal of interest and some anxiety?

Mr. Macleod

I have not forgotten that, and I have asked my Department to look into it.

18. Dr. Stross

asked the Minister of Health how many mass radiography units are in use in England and Wales; what is the approximate number of cases X-rayed per week or month; and how far the number of units in use is to be increased in the near future.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Sixty-three units are now in use. Last December the 62 units then in use made 190,386 examinations. Five additional units have recently been allocated and arrangements are in hand to bring them into operation.

Dr. Stross

In view of the undoubted value of this work, the value of which cannot be exaggerated, will the Minister look at the technique by means of which information is made available following the use of mass X-ray? What I have in mind in particular is whether the terms of reference, which are specifically to look after tuberculosis, could be extended, so that when a case of pneumo-coniosis is found we could have such data as the occupation of the patient when he contracted the disease?

Mr. Macleod

While not an expert on the technicalities of that, I will consider what the hon. Member has said and discuss it with the appropriate authority.