§ 26. Mr. Deanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the scope and purpose of clinical trials he is conducting or proposes to conduct in co-operation with doctors.
§ Mr. CrossmanClinical trials sponsored by my Department are for the purpose of providing information which will 780 be of use in defining policy or leading to better use of resources. Trials are currently being undertaken, for example, in acute myocardial infarction, where home treatment is being compared with intensive hospital care; in the treatment of varicose veins, where injection compression sclerotherapy in out-patients is being compared with straightforward surgical techniques; and in other situations where particular developments, such as new monitoring equipment or sterile environments, are being evaluated in clinical situations.
§ Mr. DeanI am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for that information. Can he help to deal with a confusion which has arisen with regard to the term "clinical trial"? Is he aware that following the Medicines Act this is often regarded as a trial of new medicines? Will he take steps to ensure that the term is used rather more specifically than appears to be the case at present?
§ Mr. CrossmanI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his expression of thanks and will bear his point in mind.