Bronchitis (Hansard, 26 November 1963)

§ Mr. Ellis Smith
asked the Minister of Health what study his Department has made of the medical conference proceedings held in October, 1963, at Stoke-on-Trent and Eccles; what action will be taken based upon the experience of the doctors in these areas where the incidence of bronchitis is the highest in the world; and what are his plans for the compulsory use of antibiotics as part of preventive treatment.

§ Mr. Braine
My right hon. Friend is advised on these matters by his Standing Medical Advisory Committee, who are at present giving special attention to the problems of bronchitis, and he awaits their further recommendations. The prescription of antibiotics is for the individual doctor to decide.

Mr. Ellis Smith asked
the Minister of Health if he is aware of growing medical opinion that environmental factors increase the danger of bronchitis; and what action he will take, after consultation with other Departments, to reduce the environmental factors to a minimum in areas where the number of those who suffer from bronchitis is greatest.

§ Mr. Braine
Yes. I would refer the hon. Member to the full statement I made in the adjournment debate on 15th February last.

Mr. Ellis Smith asked
the Minister of Health if he will provide figures in tabular form on the comparative cost of providing medicine as preventive treatment for bronchitis in hospital practice compared with domiciliary practice, and similar figures for the provision of tetracycline and ampicillin.
51W

§ Mr. Braine
I am advised that tetracycline and ampicillin are the preparations most commonly used for such treatment. The cost of treatment would depend on the quantity required.

§ Mr. Ellis Smith
asked the Minister of Health if he will give in tabular form the percentage, for the latest comparable period, of those who have suffered from bronchitis and those who have died, respectively, during the past 30 years in England, Scotland, Stoke-on-Trent, Salford, Stockport, Eccles, York, Harro-

— 1932 1937 1942 1947 1952 1957 1961 1962

England … 50 43 70 75 62 60 68 71

Scotland … 70 66 51 48 40 39 49 48

Stoke-on-Trent … 56 46 85 91 83 70 82 79

Salford … 78 70 156 165 133 137 156 168

Stockport … 62 44 102 92 116 103 101 96

Eccles … ^* 38 ^* 153 143 140 123 111

York … 54 50 59 61 61 70 63 65

Harrrogate … ^* 59 ^* 72 33 40 53 56

Edinburgh … 71 66 59 58 39 49 55 45

Lancashire … 55 52 78 90 72 73 85 81

Staffordshire … 52 44 56 72 57 58 68 70

Barrow in Furness(a) … 72 85 89 107 60 42 32 46

Kirkcaldy(a) … 52 65 56 46 30 42 34 28

Aberdeen(a) … 63 46 37 38 31 31 35 37

(a) The three county boroughs or burghs of population over 50,000 with the lowest crude rates in 1961.

Figures for the other countries named are not strictly comparable because of international differences in diagnostic nomenclature and in practices regarding certification of cause of death. Such figures as are available are these:

— 1932 1937 1942 1947 1952 1957 1961 1962

Belgium ^* ^* ^* ^* 18 20 18 ^*

Denmark 19 16 11 6 3 6 6 ^*

Norway ^* ^* ^* 7 5 4 4 ^*

France 23 ^* 11 7 5 5 4 ^*

United States of America 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 ^*

^* Not available.

—	1932	1937	1942	1947	1952	1957	1961	1962
England	…	50	43	70	75	62	60	68	71
Scotland	…	70	66	51	48	40	39	49	48
Stoke-on-Trent	…	56	46	85	91	83	70	82	79
Salford	…	78	70	156	165	133	137	156	168
Stockport	…	62	44	102	92	116	103	101	96
Eccles	…	^*	38	^*	153	143	140	123	111
York	…	54	50	59	61	61	70	63	65
Harrrogate	…	^*	59	^*	72	33	40	53	56
Edinburgh	…	71	66	59	58	39	49	55	45
Lancashire	…	55	52	78	90	72	73	85	81
Staffordshire	…	52	44	56	72	57	58	68	70
Barrow in Furness(a)	…	72	85	89	107	60	42	32	46
Kirkcaldy(a)	…	52	65	56	46	30	42	34	28
Aberdeen(a)	…	63	46	37	38	31	31	35	37
(a) The three county boroughs or burghs of population over 50,000 with the lowest crude rates in 1961.

Figures for the other countries named are not strictly comparable because of international differences in diagnostic nomenclature and in practices regarding certification of cause of death. Such figures as are available are these:
—	1932	1937	1942	1947	1952	1957	1961	1962
Belgium	^*	^*	^*	^*	18	20	18	^*
Denmark	19	16	11	6	3	6	6	^*
Norway	^*	^*	^*	7	5	4	4	^*
France	23	^*	11	7	5	5	4	^*
United States of America	4	3	3	2	2	2	2	^*
^* Not available.