§ Sir R. TASKERasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a method of giving relief to women in their confinements known as gas and air analgesia has been in use for two years with unqualified success in the Liverpool Maternity Hospital and the Wellhouse Hospital, Barnet, and has now been adopted in a large number of hospitals throughout the country; and if he proposes to take any action to ensure that the use of gas and air analgesia will be encouraged in all hospitals under the control of the public health authorities?
§ Sir K. WOODI am aware that the method mentioned by my hon. Friend has been in use at the two hospitals referred to, and that favourable results are claimed for it. I understand also that an investigation of this and other methods is being carried out by the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists but no findings have yet been published. On my present information, I do not consider that I should be justified in taking any action in this matter, but the use of gas and air analgesia is within the discretion of the responsible Medical Officers of each hospital.