§ 41. Mr. J. J. Astorasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the recent death of a patient in the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Greenbank, Plymouth, which was found to be due to infection caused by inadequate and dangerous conditions in the operating theatre.
§ Mr. TurtonI have asked the Regional Hospital Board for a full report on this case.
§ Mr. AstorCan my right hon. Friend ascertain and confirm that at regular intervals for the last five years since June, 1951, the consulting surgeon has warned the hospital management committee that this operating theatre was dangerous and 912 that sooner or later a patient would die of gangrene, which has happened, and that these warnings have been passed to his Ministry and to the South-West Regional Hospital Board, but have gone unheeded?
§ Mr. TurtonThat is, I think, the next Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is an example of the danger of cuts in capital and other expenditure, and shows that had the work been carried out earlier, life might have been saved?
§ Mr. TurtonIt would be most improper to prejudge this issue until I have received the report.
§ 42. Mr. J. J. Astorasked the Minister of Health what representations have been received by the South West Regional Hospital Board over the last eight years from the hospital management committee and medical staff about the inadequate and dangerous conditions in the operating theatre at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Greenbank, Plymouth.
§ Mr. TurtonThe Board received five representations from the hospital management committee about the condition of this operating theatre; the earliest was in April, 1950, and the most recent in January, 1955. The committee, however, recommended higher priority for two other capital schemes in their group.
§ Mr. AstorIn view of the unfortunate circumstances in this case, will my right hon. Friend, in other similar cases, consider intervening when medical opinion is in conflict with that of the hospital management committee? Can he ensure that the hospital management committee publishes the reasons why it did not give priority for the rebuilding of this operating theatre?
§ Mr. TurtonIt is quite clear that the hospital management committee took the view that the maternity unit was even worse than the operating theatre. That is why the maternity unit is already being attended to. I have now received a proposal for a new operating theatre. It was submitted to me on 19th June, and I approved the preparations of sketch plans on 23rd July. The work will go forward in due course.
§ Dr. SummerskillWhen continuous adverse reports of this nature from a surgeon or physician are made to a regional hospital board, are they subsequently brought to the Minister's attention through the report of the hospital board; and what action does the Minister then take?
§ Mr. TurtonIf the right hon. Lady will put down a general Question, I will answer it.