§ Mr. EadieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to assure himself, and what information is available to him, that the replacement of blankets and sheets with duvets in hospitals would not increase the risk of infectious diseases.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe choice of bedding used in hospitals is a matter primarily for health boards. It is for the boards to satisfy themselves that the material is suitable to be cleaned or laundered to prevent the risk of any infection. Ayrshire and Arran health board has been using duvets for some time and has subjected them to regular microbiological testing over a five-year period. To date, these tests have shown that the duvets are clear of infection.