HC Deb 28 May 1970 vol 801 cc559-60W
Sir D. Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that 15,665 cases of diseases other than 2,847 cases of tuberculosis were detected by the mass X-ray service in 1967, he will now reconsider his decision to phase out this service.

Mr. John Dunwoody:

The detection of diseases other than tuberculosis has never been the primary objective of the mass tions directly following illegal and spontaneous abortions, and from other underlying causes following legal abortion, respectively, with details of these causes, in 1967, between 1st January and 26th April and between 27th April and 31st December, 1968, and in 1969, respectively; and what is his estimate of the number of women admitted to hospital suffering from the effects of illegal abortions during these periods.

Mr. Crossman:

The available information is as follows:

X-ray service, and I am advised that there are no good medical grounds for its retention for this purpose. Of the total of 15,665 non-tuberculous conditions detected in 1967, 7,154 were oases referred by general practitioners, who will of course continue to refer patients to the hospital radiological service or to the mass X-ray service where units are retained for special reasons. The total number of examinations performed by the mass X-ray service in 1967 was 3.2 million.

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