HC Deb 02 May 1955 vol 540 cc91-2W
22. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Health what experiments have been made in the use of the substance known as H.11 in the treatment of cancer; and whether he will make this treatment available to sufferers of cancer through the National Health doctors.

25. Mr. Sparks

asked the Minister of Health for what reasons H.11 treatment is not made readily available through all National Health Service doctors to sufferers from cancer.

Mr. Iain Macleod

As a result of claims made, the Medical Research Council appointed, in June, 1944, a Committee to investigate. It made a careful study of the clinical records of patients treated with this substance and itself initiated animal experiments. It was unable to confirm the claims of the makers, and the Council has since received no new evidence which would make it revise these conclusions.

General practitioners have a right to prescribe it under the National Health Service if they consider it necessary in an individual case but they have been advised of the opinion of the Joint Committee on Prescribing that it is a preparation which has not been proved of therapeutic value and have been asked in general not to prescribe preparations in this category.