§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what investigations have now taken place regarding the deaths from gastro-enteritis at the Manchester maternity homes; what precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of this disease; what action is proposed to prevent a recurrence of this type of epidemic; and if he will make a further statement.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe Manchester Regional Hospital Board are investigating the circumstances and will be sending me a full report. The usual precautions have been taken to prevent the spread of infection within the hospitals concerned, and other hospitals and medical officers of health in the Region have been informed of this unusually severe form of the disease. None of the three hospitals where deaths have occurred has a maternity unit.
I understand that the cause of the illnesses has not yet been established with certainty although E. coli 0114 has been isolated from some of the babies. Further investigations are being carried out in consultation with the Public Health Laboratory Service. There is no evidence as yet of a specific epidemic.