HC Deb 22 May 1991 vol 191 cc522-3W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department first learnt of the outbreak of Legionella resulting from contaminated water supplies in Greater Glasgow health board premises.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Legionellosis became a notifiable disease in Scotland on 1 October 1988. Since that date Greater Glasgow health board have informed the Scottish Office Home and Health Department on the occasion of any outbreak.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which hospitals have been affected by the Legionella outbreak in the Greater Glasgow area.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

During 1990 the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Glasgow Western Infirmary both recorded cases of Legionnaire's disease. There are currently no outbreaks in the Greater Glasgow health board area.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken to avoid further outbreaks of Legionella in Glasgow health board premises.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

There is an ongoing programme of water systems disinfection, maintenance and upgrading throughout Greater Glasgow health board's premises along with a programme of reserch into the proliferation of the legionellae becterium. Over the past two years £0.25 million has been spent on these measures and an allocation of £0.5 million has been made for 1991–92 to continue the programme.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many isolates of Legionella species have been found in the water supplies of Greater Glasgow health board premises.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Since 1 October 1988 Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 and 6 have been isolated from the water systems in Greater Glasgow health board's premises.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when was the last case of water contaminated by Legionella species detected in the greater Glasgow area.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Legionellaceae, the family of Legionella bacteria survive and multiply in water. It is widespread in natural fresh water including rivers and ponds, and may also be found in wet soil. There is a strong likelihood of very low concentrations of the bacterium existing in all open water systems, including hospital water systems, at almost any time.

In the main, through the control of water temperature, appropriate disinfection and avoidance of water stagnation, the proliferation of the bacterium can be satisfactorily contained.

Currently, there is no outbreak of legionnaire's disease in health board premises in the Greater Glasgow area.

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