HC Deb 09 February 1970 vol 795 cc896-8
25. Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will maintain mobile X-ray units in those rural areas where current health regulations require all mothers who occasionally help, in addition to regularly employed staff, to have had a recent satisfactory chest X-ray.

26. Mr. Wiggin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in phasing out the mass X-ray service, he will retain a service in the large cities, especially where there is a concentration of immigrants.

55. Mr. Robert Howarth

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many regional hospital boards have decided to discontinue factory visits by the mass miniature X-ray service; what are the criteria by which he decides to approve such proposals; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. John Dunwoody

Regional hospital boards are now considering the advice recently issued by my Department to phase the mass X-ray service gradually into the expanding ordinary hospital radiography service. They will consult with local authorities, executive councils and local medical committees before introducing changes. Mobile X-ray units will continue to be used in certain localities and for particular groups where the need cannot be met by hospitals, including those coming into contact with children who are required by the local authority to be X-rayed.

Mr. Hill

Will the Minister pay particular regard to the difficulties in the rural areas and, in relation to playgroups, again, perhaps consider the evidence, which I will send him, showing what seem to be in certain areas unreasonable requirements for these health checks, especially if the means for them are not readily available?

Dr. Dunwoody

I agree with the hon. Member that some rural areas present particular problems and this is an example—an area where mobile surveys may well be retained. If the hon. Member likes to forward any evidence of the kind he has used I will look at it.

Mr. Wiggin

While welcoming that answer, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if he will bear in mind that Heathrow is the only airport where X-ray facilities are available for immigrants, and will he take steps to see that this facility is made available at airports and other ports of entry?

Dr. Dunwoody

The proposals I have talked about do not involve any change in the arrangements whereby immigrants are X-rayed for tuberculosis at airports. With regard to airports or sea ports, I am prepared to look into this if the hon. Member can give me examples of what it is that concerns him.

Mr. Howarth

Will my hon. Friend take note of the many protests which, I gather, he is now receiving about these possible changes? Will he look at this whole matter again?

Dr. Dunwoody

I have received a number of respresentations on this matter. I think that hon. Members may have missed the point of these proposals. We feel that, as a result of the considerable reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis in this country, we can make more effective use of the valuable staff and valuable, equipment.

Lord Balniel

Surely it is rather regrettable that this valuable service of mobile X-ray is having to be phased out, basically for economic reasons? Would the hon. Gentleman not be more positive, and make sure that it is maintained in highly concentrated areas of poverty and bad housing, and where there are large numbers of immigrants?

Dr. Dunwoody

These proposals are not stimulated by economic reasons. They are, as I said earlier, related to the very considerable reduction in incidence of tuberculosis, through the very success of this service, and the steady decline in the return of positive results means that this use of this equipment and of the radiographers is nothing like as much as formerly, and that we can make more valuable use of them in the hospital service. The special problem of playgroups and rural communities will be met by mobile services where hospital service is not available.

Dr. Summerskill

Would my hon. Friend pay particular attention to the towns where he knows there is a higher than average incidence of tuberculosis, particularly the industrial towns in the North of England?

Dr. Dunwoody

Yes, this is the sort of situation in which one would want to pay particular attention to the suitability of any alternative proposals to the present mass X-ray service.