§ 9. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a considerable number of men and women over the age of 45 years who are thought to be suffering from chronic bronchitis are 535 affected by sputum-positive tuberculosis and are therefore a danger to others; and what steps he is taken to persuade such people to have their chests X-rayed.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithI have no evidence of the numbers affected; but the importance of this group as a potential source of infection has been brought to the notice of the directors of mass miniature radiography units, which increasingly provide special facilities for patients referred by general medical practitioners.
§ Mr. HastingsDoes the Minister realise that the general view of the profession is that tuberculosis is now spread to a large extent especially by men who are just a little past middle life and that there appears to be great danger? It is suggested that these people have tuberculosis in childhood, it gets healed and then breaks out later and is thought to be bronchitis. In that way the disease is spread. Is anything being done to inquire as to how accurate that suggestion is? If it is found to be accurate, will the right hon. Gentleman do more to prevent tuberculosis spreading?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithIt is for the units, in co-operation with local authorities, to plan methods of bringing into examination any particulars groups they wish. General medical practitioners can refer cases which they desire to have examined. I am sure there is no difficulty for general practitioners who wish to have patients examined by mass radiography.