HC Deb 24 October 1966 vol 734 cc630-1
21. Mr. Stodart

asked the Minister of Health whether any specific responsibility exists for examining and testing new anaethetic equipment in a hospital, so as to make sure that it does what it is intended to do.

Mr. Loughlin

Equipment is normally installed and initially tested by the supplier. Acceptance and subsequent testing depend on the kind of apparatus and the organisation of the hospital concerned.

Mr. Stodart

Has the hon. Gentleman read the evidence of the inquiry which took place recently into the very disturbing events in Edinburgh? Does he say that there is no fear of any such mishap occurring in England and Wales through lack of inspection because the engineer thinks that the hospital should carry out the inspection and the hospital thinks that the engineer should? Has no instruction been sent out to ask hospitals to be on their guard against this?

Mr. Loughlin

The incident in Scotland must be taken up with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Piped gas supplies and not an anaesthetic apparatus were concerned in the incident which he mentioned. My Department does what it can to ensure that certain standards are applied in anaesthetic apparatus.

Mr. Dalyell

Would the Minister agree that the Tweed is no boundary in these matters? Will he take urgent steps to see that hospital organisations throughout Britain are made aware of the incident?

Mr. Loughlin

So far as Scotland is concerned, I can only repeat that I cannot answer on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I understand that there is a Question down to him today.

Miss Pike

This is not good enough. Does the Minister now say that, although what has happened in Scotland has caused very grievous deaths, no action is being taken in England to ensure that this cannot happen? Will he issue a circular to all hospitals pointing out the danger and giving instructions that proper inspection is carried out?

Mr. Loughlin

I assure the hon. Lady that we are considering the full implication of the incident as it relates to the whole hospital service and that if we feel it necessary to issue a circular of that kind, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has done already, we shall do so.