§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD UVEDALE OF NORTH ENDMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government how many cases of tuberculosis were notified in each of the last five years in, England and Wales and Scotland; what was the number of deaths from tuberculosis in each of those years; what has been done to make additional beds available for treatment; and what steps are being taken to combat the disease]
§ LORD HADEN-GUESTMy Lords, tuberculosis notifications in Great Britain in the five years 1946 to 1950 respectively numbered about 61,000, 61,800, 62,600, 62,300 and 59,000, and the numbers deaths from tuberculosis approximately 26,830, 27,640, 25,880, 23,320 and 18,750. The 1950 figures are provisional. Efforts to provide more beds have been mainly directed to recruiting nurses and to using suitable beds in general and isolation hospitals. In England and Wales about 3,550 additional beds had been made available since the start of the National Health. Service up to the end of last year, and further substantial additions are continuing.* In Scotland, 1,390 extra beds were provided between January, 1949, and the end of March, 1951. Arrangements for using a limited number of sanatorium beds in Switzerland are taking effect this year. Steps to combat tuberculosis include new methods of early diagnosis (especially mass radiography), advances in methods of treatment, intensification of preventive measures including B.C.G. vaccination in appropriate cases, and every effort within existing means and resources to improve the clinical and preventive services.
§ LORD UVEDALE OF NORTH ENDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply, which must give satisfaction to everyone except the misanthropic. I should like to ask the Government to bear in mind that this problem of tuberculosis has not yet been solved, and cannot be solved until we have a specific remedy for the disease. Whilst modern methods have fully justified themselves, I would ask the Government further to bear in mind that every effort is still needed to deal with this scourge of mankind.
§ LORD HADEN-GUESTMy Lords, from the figures which I have given it is evident that there has been an intensification of the attack on tuberculosis.
* See Written Answer. 1st August, 1951.987 during recent years. As part of that effort, the scientific research effort to discover special treatments for tuberculosis is being continued with equal intensity. I hope that the noble Lord will be satisfied with that answer. It is quite certain that in this field of medical knowledge great progress is being made; and, while we cannot promise, we are always hoping for the kind of remedy to which the noble Lord has referred.
§ LORD UVEDALE OF NORTH ENDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that further statement, which is quite satisfactory.