HC Deb 13 December 1954 vol 535 cc1386-7
31. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Minister of Health if he will issue regulations to make cerebral palsy a notifiable disease.

Mr. Iain Macleod

No, Sir. I have no power to do so, but in any case I am not satisfied that notification would achieve any useful result.

Mr. Johnson

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that such notification would enable a much more accurate estimate to be prepared of the number of spastics and would also increase the probability of children receiving that very early treatment which is of such supreme importance?

Mr. Macleod

I do not think that I have any power in this matter. The reason I cannot make this a notifiable disease is that it is not an infectious disease and, therefore, does not come within the scope of the regulations under the Public Health Act, 1936.

Mr. Hastings

I quite agree that the Minister has no powers to deal with the matter in that way, but will he not use all his influence with the medical profession to try to get these cases notified to medical officers of health as soon as possible, realising the great importance of early treatment in the vast number of cases, and also the fact that, as he well knows, in many cases the disease can be recognised in children before they are six months old?

Mr. Macleod

I think it would be helpful if we had as early notification as possible, although there are often considerable difficulties about diagnosis of this disease, which I think would complicate the matter.

Mr. Hannan

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in this matter? Many parents have a very exaggerated idea of the need for protecting their children and keep them in a secluded fashion at home where the local people are quite helpless to advise persons how best to help these children.

Mr. Macleod

If there is anything that we can learn from the methods employed in Scotland, I shall be very happy to consult my right hon. Friend.