HL Deb 24 January 1991 vol 525 cc330-1

3.11 p.m.

Lord Molloy asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied that sufficient liaison has taken place with the local health authorities to ensure that any casualties from the Gulf are sent to the most appropriate hospital.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper)

Yes, my Lords.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I am grateful for that very assuring response. Does the noble Baroness not agree, however, that all war wounds are of a special nature? Does she not further agree that on this occasion we may be facing wounds resulting from the use of biological weapons? We have learnt from medical staff dealing with those injured through contact with oil slicks that they have themselves been contaminated. Will that matter be taken into consideration when treating casualties resulting from the use of biological weapons? Can we be sure that the staff treating them will not be contaminated?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, arrangements exist for casualties resulting from the use of biological or chemical weapons. The immediate effects will be dealt with and treated in the war zone. Decontamination will take place there. Only the long-term effects will need to be catered for in the National Health Service.

Lord Wallace of Coslany

My Lords, can the noble Baroness give an assurance that casualties will be dealt with in the most appropriate hospital, whether that be National Health Service or private?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, each region has considered with its managers and senior clinicians the arrangements for dispersing casualties. In some regions, specific hospitals have been designated to be on call; in other regions, all district general hospitals will stand by. Final decisions will be made in the light of the circumstances at the time. Into this context we would feed the fact that private sector hospitals have offered certain facilities. They are being taken into account and the arrangements are being made.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, I welcome the statement made by the Secretary of State yesterday that he has requested health service managers to use private hospitals to avoid existing waiting lists growing as a result of war accidents. I ask the noble Baroness for two assurances. First, will the Government ensure that in this connection private profit is not made out of those who suffer in this war? Secondly, will she give an assurance that additional funds will be made available to health authorities so that they do not suffer as a result of dealing with war casualties?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced last week that we shall provide extra money to meet the full costs of any Gulf casualties. We are giving guidance on how to account for and reclaim Gulf costs. This means that health authorities will be able to continue to use all the money in their normal allocations for their normal workload, even if this is deferred as a result of any casualties.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, is the Minister aware that some of the world experts on war-related injuries are surgeons from Northern Ireland? Should they be needed, will they be called upon, or are they perhaps already in the Gulf?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, assessment of the type of expert who may be needed in relation to casualties has been taken into account and provision has been made. Some are in the Gulf and others will remain in the United Kingdom to deal with homebound casualties.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the reply she gave to my noble friend on the Front Bench will be very much welcomed by local authorities and the National Health Service? It was a good answer.

Noble Lords

Oh!

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I do believe that things which are rare need to be underlined. Does she not agree that the private sector and the National Health Service will regard their treatment of our wounded or injured servicemen and servicewomen as an act of joining together in a national emergency? They will not be too concerned with the cost of the service they give.

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, I fully agree with the first part of the noble Lord's supplementary question. As for the second part, I take the opportunity to emphasise once again the way in which our emergency services—the ambulancemen, our doctors, nurses and all our hospital workers—respond so magnificently to emergencies in the health service: witness the Cannon Street disaster a week or so ago. In this situation, time will be on our side because there will be a time lag between any treatment given on the spot in the Gulf and the arrival of casualties in this country.