Private Hospitals: Gulf Emergency (Hansard, 14 January 1991)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper)
My Lords, contingency plans for the reception and treatment of casualties in the event of hostilities in the Gulf rely on a combination of military and National Health Service facilities. The national plans do not include the use of private facilities but, where appropriate, it is for health authorities to decide whether to contract out some of their routine work to private hospitals.

§ Lord Dean of Beswick
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that Answer. Does she agree that in order to obtain a uniform approach a more central direction to regional health authorities may be necessary if, God forbid, war breaks out and we reach saturation point as regards casualties? Does the Minister further agree that it could be a mistake to leave the matter to the various regional health authorities because there could be two standards of treatment to the detriment of war casualties and the indigenous population on the waiting list?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the Government have already issued guidance and require regions to produce plans to show that they have prepared contingency arrangements. While the private sector makes a valuable contribution to overall health care it cannot provide the full range or match the scale of services available under the National Health Service. In particular, it cannot provide accident and emergency cover or send out medical teams to major incidents; nor can it offer the full range of specialties available in all health regions. We have taken care to ensure that plans are in place to meet any eventualities, although we hope that they will not occur.

§ Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone
My Lords, whatever the merits of the Question, is it not a source 983 of considerable satisfaction that after years of deprecatory and critical remarks about the private sector in medicine made by members of the Labour Benches it should at last be recognised that the sector has something useful to offer?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, yes, and I am grateful to my noble and learned friend for reminding us of that. I emphasise that the private sector has indicated that it is ready to help in any way.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the Minister aware that although the private sector has rightly said that it shares responsibility with the NHS hospitals, fundamentally it will lie with the NHS hospitals? Has there been any liaison between all hospitals, particularly with regard to their specialties, in order that they can provide the best service in the best manner if required?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, yes. The regional planning that has taken place has taken that matter into account. Emergency arrangements have been set up. An operations room has been set up in the Department of Health and we believe that the various regions are adequately co-ordinated.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, clearly the whole House hopes that the eventuality will not occur. However, as the Minister has said, we must be prepared. Will she give an assurance that the 3,500 beds temporarily closed because of financial constraints will be opened if necessary to deal with the casualties in each of the regions? Secondly, is the Minister satisfied that doctors and nurses have been effectively briefed about the nature and effects of chemical weapons because anxiety has been expressed within the professions?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, we are confident that the National Health Service has the resources and expertise to treat any casualties who are likely to be evacuated to this country. The Ministry of Defence has made arrangements to ensure that the casualties of chemical warfare will be decontaminated in the battle theatre. The reception of casualties will have an effect on National Health Service arrangements as regards waiting lists and so forth. We shall keep a close eye on those effects and consider whether any action is necessary.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, will the Minister respond to my question about the beds that have been closed? If they were opened there may be a less serious effect on patients awaiting treatment within the National Health Service.

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, on the basis of estimates we have made contingency plans for coping with casualties. They may include the opening of wards and beds which have been closed. We are keeping an eye on the situation and shall adapt as necessary.

§ Lord Shepherd
My Lords, has the Ministry of Defence passed to surgeons and consultants within the National Health Service the knowledge and expertise that has been acquired at Porton Down about 984 chemical warfare and wounds? Has that knowledge been passed to the doctors who must deal with the patients admitted to hospitals?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, there is full co-operation between medical personnel employed in both the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health. A revised National Health Service medical guide—the so-called blue guide—which relates to Gulf contingency planning and makes available information to all specialist fields is about to be issued.

§ Lord Shepherd
My Lords, did the Minister say that the guide is about to be issued? Has it not yet been issued?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, it is issued as of now.

§ Lord Smith
My Lords, I must ask a version of the Question that I asked on 18th December. Have Her Majesty's Government any plans effectively to link independent and NHS medicine? That might solve in part the awkward problem of the in-patient treatment of NHS patients displaced by the admission of casualties in the Gulf.

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I have already said that it is for health authorities to decide whether it is necessary to contract out some of their routine work to private health facilities.