§ 40. Mr. Russellasked the Minister of Health whether he has yet reached a decision on the recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry into the Cost of the Health Service that the medical officer of health, or one of his staff, should be given an honorary appointment on the 796 medical staff of a hospital; that he should be a member of the medical staff committee; and that he should take charge of outbreaks of infection.
§ Mr. VosperYes, Sir. After consulting the bodies chiefly interested, I have decided not to adopt this recommendation. Hospital authorities have already been advised of the desirability of medical officers of health being members of group hospital medical committees, and of medical officers of health of sanitary districts being members of control of infection committees at hospitals. In my view, arrangements of this kind contribute more satisfactorily to the link between the different parts of the Health Service which the Committee had in mind than formal appointments as they proposed.
§ Mr. RussellCan my right hon. Friend say what was the view of the medical profession about this recommendation? In view of the fact that he has not adopted it, has he taken any special measures to deal with outbreaks of infection?
§ Mr. VosperThe vast majority of hospital authorities were opposed to the recommendations. Replying to the second part of the supplementary question, hospital authorities have been asked to set up control of infection committees to go into action whenever any infection occurs, and in a circular issued by my Department in 1953 they were particularly urged to ensure that the medical officer of health for the sanitary district was a member of this committee.