§ 61. Mr. KnapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations on the management of communicable diseases contained in the chief medical officer's report, "Public Health in England".
§ Mr. DorrellIn December 1988, circular HC (88) 64 was issued to health authorities. The circular asked health authorities to review the arrangements for the discharge of their responsibilities to improve the health of the population including the control of communicable disease and infection. Health authorities were reminded of the need for effective measures to prevent and control infection and, for example, asked to move towards management arrangements which assigned executive responsibility for the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable disease and infection to a named medical practitioner of consultant status, the consultant in communicable disease control—CCDC.
A survey of training needs for CCDCs was commissioned in 1989 and the resulting report was issued to health authorities. A total of £164,000 has been allocated to health authorities to meet the cost of course fees for CCDC training in the 1990–91 financial year. In addition £119,000 has been made available to the communicable disease surveillance centre to enable it to develop a practical communicable disease control training module for CCDCs.
A consultation document "Review of the Law on Infectious Disease Control" was published in October 1989 inviting comments on proposals to change the relevant legal provision in England and Wales. The responses to this consultation document are currently being considered.
Copies of documents mentioned are available in the Library.