HL Deb 17 July 1985 vol 466 cc743-4

3.4 p.m.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that dental surgeons only use hypodermic needles once, in order to minimise the possible risk of patients contracting AIDS and hepatitis.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)

My Lords, the department issued advice in January 1979 to all dental practitioners in the general, community and hospital dental service on the precautions necessary to avoid the risk of infection from hepatitis in dentistry. This strongly advised the use of a new disposable needle for each patient as a universal practice and that resterilisable needles must not be used. That advice is equally relevant to preventing cross-infection when treating patients suffering from AIDS.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply. May I ask her what happens to the used needles? Should there not be a system whereby they are collected in sealed containers and taken to a central point, such as a hospital, to be incinerated?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, arrangements already exist for the safe disposal of clinical waste from hospitals, and, in some areas, from general dental practices, by incineration. The department's guidance, however, requires that all "sharps" from general dental practices should be disposed of in suitable puncture-proof containers specifically designed for the purpose.

The Earl of Halsbury

My Lords, this is a grave matter. Is there not a precedent set by the Admiralty in the year 1714, when it offered a prize of £20,000 of public money for a better chronometer? Could we not offer a prize for a non-refillable hypodermic syringe, again at public expense?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the Conservative Party has always welcomed competition. With regard to bottles, which are rather wide of the Question, I am sure that the idea that they be refilled regardless of what they may have contained would strike noble Lords as a bad one.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Baroness was not suggesting that there should be competition in the particular field that is the subject of the Question asked by the noble Baroness, Lady Masham. Since the Minister has confirmed that it is supposed to be an absolute rule, confirmed by the British Dental Association and by the dental schools, that syringes should not be re-used, and since there may be evidence that some practitioners are in breach of that rule, would the noble Baroness not consider it appropriate to hold discussions with her right honourable friend the Secretary of State as to whether this matter, in view of its importance, might be considered for legislation in some forthcoming Act?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, in answer to the noble Lord, Lord Ennals, I am not sure about legislation. General dental practitioners are required by their terms of service to provide their surgeries with suitable equipment. The department's dental reference officer will draw the attention of the dentist to inadequate sterilisation equipment, for example, if the officer observes such in use during a visit to a surgery. Officials will discuss with the appropriate professional dental bodies what action should be taken. One will always have goodies and one will always have baddies, I fear.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, will the noble Baroness accept that I was not proposing that there should be legislation? In the same way that we have health and safety legislation that is obligatory upon employers, and since this, too, is a safety matter, I was simply asking whether the noble Baroness will consider with her right honourable friend whether this is perhaps a matter that could be dealt with by legislation at some stage.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I will of course ensure that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State learns of the noble Lord's comments. I remind the noble Lord that the dentist is as much at risk as the patient. It is therefore in the dentist's own interest to make sure that everything is hygienic.

Baroness Phillips

My Lords, does the noble Baroness the Minister not agree that anybody who works in the field of medicine and health cannot afford to be described as a baddie, and that they must all be goodies?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I expect that that is in the eye of the beholder.

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