HL Deb 29 January 2002 vol 631 cc69-72

2.44 p.m.

Baroness Knight of Collingtree asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will now publish the conclusions of the review of the decontamination of surgical instruments in the National Health Service, as promised by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on llth December 2001 (HL Deb, col. 1231).

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

My Lords, the review of decontamination of surgical instruments in the NHS in England was published on llth December 2001. Copies of the report were placed in the Library of the House and it is available on the department's website. All NHS hospitals in England have access to decontamination services of an acceptable standard.

Baroness Knight of Collingtree

My Lords, does the Minister recall that my Question on 11th December referred to a report that was suppressed because the Government disliked its findings? He said in his Answer that he was publishing the report that day. Is he aware that I asked the Printed Paper Office for it on that day, on the following day, on the following week and on a number of occasions since, but only late this morning, after exhaustive research by the excellent staff in that office, was it found on an obscure Internet site? Is he aware that neither of the two reports on the subject—only intermittently on the Internet—has an international standard book number and thus cannot be classified as publications? Is the Minister not aware of the importance of keeping a promise made from that Box in this House?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, I repeat what I said in my Answer. Copies of the report were placed in the Library of the House. The snapshot survey appears as an appendix to the survey report. In terms of the wider publication of the report, my understanding is that 1,000 copies have been distributed to the NHS. The picture tells a good story, which is that the problem of decontamination was considered, reviewed and dealt with.

Baroness Northover

My Lords, is the Minister aware that last year scientists at St Mary's Hospital Paddington estimated that half of all instruments used for tonsillectomies could be contaminated with new variant CJD? Is he therefore confident in the Department of Health's decision to abandon the use of single-use instruments because of increased morbidity and mortality associated with them? Does he feel that that is fully justified? How does he expect parents to make informed decisions for their children about whether to ask for single-use or multi-use instruments when he fails to make fully public reports such as the one just mentioned by the noble Baroness?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, the noble Baroness is wrong, because the full results were made available on 11th December. As far as the question of single-use instruments is concerned, the point that arose from that is that the Medical Devices Agency investigated a number of problems in relation to some tonsillectomy operations. Those investigations identified one of the likely causes of the problem as due to one piece of equipment used in the operation. That is why advice was issued to the health service around single-use instruments. Of course the department's role is to ensure that such advice is promulgated throughout the health service as quickly as possible. That is what happened in this case.

Baroness Noakes

My Lords, in his reply to my noble friend's Question last December, the Minister said: the snapshot survey to which the noble Baroness referred is being published alongside the full survey that the Government are publishing today".—[Official Report, 11/12/01; col. 1232.] Is he also aware that, despite several searches of the Department of Health's website yesterday, using "decontamination of surgical instruments" and similar useful words, I could find no trace of that survey? Will the Minister tell us the meaning of "published" or "published alongside" in this new world of spin?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, I have already stated that the report, including the snapshot survey, was placed in the Library. My understanding—and I have checked with my officials this morning is that the snapshot survey is part of the documentation which is available on the website. If the noble Baroness had contacted me at any time since 11th December to say that she was having difficulty finding the report, I would have ensured that she received it forthwith.

Baroness Gardner of Parkes

My Lords, is the Minister aware that it is often quite difficult to get publications of any sort that are put out by the Department of Health through the Printed Paper Office? The PPO says that those publications do not come there automatically and have to be specially requested.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, I made it clear that this would be available in the Library of the House. It seems to me that that is a perfectly appropriate way in which information can be obtained.

Baroness Knight of Collingtree

My Lords, the report was not available in the Library. I went immediately not only to the Printed Paper Office, but to the Library and asked for it.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, I am assured that a copy of the report was placed in the Library. I also say again to the noble Baroness that if she had contacted me at any time since 11th December, I would have ensured that she received a personal copy of the report. The information on the website contains 18 documents. It also provides access to a further 18. I would be delighted to ensure that the noble Baroness receives all 36 reports.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, is the Minister—

Baroness Platt of Writtle

My Lords, perhaps I may—

Baroness Northover

My Lords, is the noble Lord—

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)

My Lords, I think that it is fairer for noble Lords who have not had an opportunity to go first.

Baroness Platt of Writtle

My Lords, the Minister has said a lot about reports, but are the instruments being decontaminated in the hospitals? Surely that is the most important thing of all.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, I could not agree more with the noble Baroness. The results of the survey, which were indeed made available on 11th December, show that no decontamination facility in the NHS was considered unsafe. We have a complete programme of action which has been going for more than two years to improve decontamination facilities. There is clearly no room for complacency, but a great improvement has now taken place.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords—

Noble Lords

Next Question!

Lord Williams of Mostyn

My Lords, I think that we ought to move on because there is a very important Question.

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