§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to protect health service staff and patients who are allergic to latex from exposure to it; and if he will refer the issue of latex allergy to the Medical Devices Agency Committee on Safety of Devices. [26124]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 11 January 2002]: I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.
The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) regularly investigates the risks posed to patients and health care workers and, along with the Department, issues relevant guidance. Latex is recognised as a sensitiser or substance hazardous to health as defined by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH 1994) and HSC 1999/186 instructed that individuals who are sensitised to latex should stop using latex medical gloves and be provided with gloves made from an alternative material.
It would be inappropriate to refer the issue of latex allergy to the MDA's Committee on Safety of Devices at the moment, because the MDA is actively involved in drafting European guidance for manufacturers on the regulations for medical devices containing latex. The European Commission group working on this document is expected to complete this work later this year.