HC Deb 24 October 1966 vol 734 cc624-5
4. Mr. Barnes

asked the Minister of Health how long it was before normal supplies of nitrous oxide could be restored to hospitals in the South of England following the withdrawal on 6th September of all supplies issued from the Brentford works of the British Oxygen Company; and what alternative sources of supply are available in an emergency of this kind.

Mr. K. Robinson

Production at Brentford was resumed within 24 hours, and the stocks held by hospitals had returned to their normal level within three weeks. Nitrous oxide is produced by the British Oxygen Company at one other factory in England, one in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Barnes

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, does he not agree that it was a considerable shock to many people in this country that this happened? If no other sources of supply are available in the South of England, would it not make sense to hold special reserves of specially tested gas which would be ready for an emergency of this kind?

Mr. Robinson

I do not think that that is necessary. The sequence of events which led to the incident was quite unprecedented. I am satisfied that the intensified inspection procedures now in force provide a satisfactory margin of safety.

Mr. Rankin

May we assume that when a gas of this nature is about to be used it is tested first?

Mr. Robinson

Yes, it was always tested, on a sampling basis, but there are now intensified inspection procedures which, I think, provide a satisfactory margin of safety.

7. Sir B. Janner

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that every step has been taken to prevent a recurrence of anaesthetic death due to contamination in nitrous oxide cylinders; and what steps he is taking to restore public confidence in this anaesthetic agent which has been widely used by dental surgeons for 100 years.

Mr. K. Robinson

Yes, Sir. I have already announced that I am satisfied that the intensified inspection procedures introduced by the firm give an adequate margin of safety. The British Oxygen Company has sent a detailed statement to all its customers explaining how this unprecedented incident occurred.

Sir B. Janner

Since this incident did occur, is my right hon. Friend absolutely satisfied that incidents of this nature cannot occur in future? Are the tests foolproof?

Mr. Robinson

Yes, Sir. I said that the sequence of events which resulted in this incident is most unlikely to recur. It was the first such incident in the course of 40 years' production of nitrous oxide in this country.