HC Deb 31 March 1981 vol 2 cc136-7
2. Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet received the urgent report which he requested on why the manufacture of pharmaceuticals has not ceased at eight hospitals in England.

The Secretary of State for Social Services (Mr. Patrick Jenkin)

Yes, Sir. It shows that seven of the eight hospitals have now ceased manufacture completely. The other one is continuing at a much reduced level.

Miss Richardson

May we have an assurance that the hospital which is continuing to manufacture at a reduced level will be monitored? Why is that hospital being allowed to continue to manufacture? How will the Secretary of State ensure that the other seven hospitals really cease to manufacture? What plans has he to monitor them?

Mr. Jenkin

The hospital which is continuing to manufacture is King's College hospital. It is making a small range of terminally sterilised products which are not available commercially. The hospital has been inspected again quite recently. The inspector is satisfied that the reduced level of manufacture involves no present danger to patients, having regard to the quality and dedication of the staff in the pharmacy department. We shall keep an eye on the other hospitals. The hospitals to which the original instructions went have ceased to manufacture in accordance with the inspector's recommendation.

Mr. Terry Davis

What steps will the Secretary of State take to ensure that in future health authorities take action without delay on recommendations from the Medicines Inspectorate?

Mr. Jenkin

Now that the matter has been brought to the attention of health authorities, I should be surprised if any health authority ignored a recommendation from the inspectorate. In addition, when we have developed, as we now nearly have, a new system of costing so that proper comparisons can be made of costs of manufacture in hospitals and costs of buying in, I shall expect all health authorities to examine carefully the comparative economics. I should expect them to buy in from outside whenever that is economical.