HC Deb 09 November 1971 vol 825 cc816-7
13. Mr. Lamond

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the precautions being taken by the authorities at Oldham and District General Hospital are adequate to over-come the dangers of polluted water; and whether other hospitals in the West Pennine Water Board area are taking similar precautions.

Mr. Alison

I understand that bacteriological tests of water at Oldham Hospital are now negative: precautions have therefore been relaxed. Water at other hospitals has also been checked.

Mr. Lamond

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that when the hospital authorities decided to boil all drinking water and the Chairman of the West Pennine Water Board said that the public must become accustomed to drinking dirty water, anxiety was bound to be caused among patients, their relatives and the general public throughout the area of the water board?

Mr. Alison

I assure the hon. Gentleman that I recognise the disquiet and I am glad that he has given us an opportunity to reassure the House and the public that the bacteriological contamination has now disappeared.