HC Deb 17 August 1991 vol 195 cc340-1
5. Mr. Canavan

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now take steps to ensure adequate safety standards for children who receive a general anaesthetic for dental surgery.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about the risks associated with general anaesthesia, especially in children's dentistry. I hope that we will be in a position to issue further guidance shortly.

Mr. Canavan

In view of recent incidents, including the tragic case of four-year-old Jenna Smith, who died after receiving a general anaesthetic in a dental surgery in Falkirk, and the evidence at the fatal accident inquiry that the anaesthetic equipment and the drugs available were out of date, will the Minister bear in mind the reported comments of Dr. Donald Braid—Scotland's top specialist in anaesthesia—that too many dentists are trying to administer anaesthetics on the cheap? Will the Minister intervene to stop the practice of administering general anaesthetics without adequate equipment and training and provide facilities in general hospitals for the administration of general anaesthetics for dental patients who require it, especially young children?

Mr. Forsyth

I understand that at the fatal accident inquiry the sheriff determined that Jenna's death was the result of a rare blood disorder and that no blame attached to either the dentist or the consultant anaesthetist. On the provision of facilities in hospital, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will be delighted to know that it is proposed to have facilities in Falkirk by the turn of the year.

Mr. Dickens

Does my hon. Friend agree that many children in Scotland, and indeed throughout the world, are nervous when they go to the dentist—welcome to the club, because I think that we all are? Does he agree that the days of gas, when parents sat in an anteroom listening to their children screaming next door, have gone and that anaesthetics are much more sophisticated these days? However, in the light of the sad tragedies that have happened throughout the United Kingdom—I am not referring to the one mentioned earlier—will my hon. Friend ensure that urgency is attached to issuing the new guidelines and ensuring that they are strictly adhered to?

Mr. Forsyth

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has taken the lead on that matter and I am sure that he will want to move as speedily as possible. My hon. Friend the Member for Littleborough and Saddleworth (Mr. Dickens) is right to draw attention to the importance of the matter. In dentistry, particularly children's dental health, we are trying to put more effort and resources into prevention. As a result of the new contract for dentists, I believe that children's dental health will improve and the need for extractions and treatment of the sort requiring anaesthesia will be much reduced.

Mr. Harry Ewing

Is the Minister aware that the dental surgery in question was in my constituency? Will the Minister condemn the practice of using drugs and other materials which, in that case, were not just marginally out of date, but years out of date? Will the Minister issue a circular to dentists to ensure that when a drug becomes out of date it is returned either to the health board or the manufacturer and in no circumstances is used on patients? If he did so, he would be doing a favour to everyone who uses dentists.

Mr. Forsyth

It would not be right for me to comment on that case. There was a fatal accident inquiry, which concluded that the death was the result of a rare blood disorder; it would he wrong for me to go beyond that. I shall certainly draw the hon. Gentleman's general point about the use of time-expired drugs to the attention of officials in the Department and write to him.