§ Mr. Iorwerth Thomasasked the Minister of Health (1) if he will urge the Welsh Regional Hospital Board to establish a new isolation hospital within the region, in view of the fact that the Penrhys Isolation Hospital has been declared as being not capable of providing effective safeguards against the spread of smallpox infection;
(2) why the Welsh Board of Health decided to use the isolation hospital at Penrhys, Rhondda, Glamorgan, for the treatment of a suspected smallpox case when they knew that the hospital had been declared unsuitable.
§ Mr. G. Elfed Daviesasked the Minister of Health (1) if the Medical Officer of Health for the Borough of Rhondda was consulted by the Welsh Board of Health before the decision was made to transfer a suspected smallpox case to the Penrhys Isolation Hospital on 13th March, 1965;
(2) why, in view of the Report on the Smallpox Outbreaks in 1962, which called attention to the unsuitability of Penrhys Isolation Hospital as a smallpox hospital, preparations were made to receive a suspected case of smallpox at this hospital on 13th March, 1965; and if he will give an assurance that this hospital will not in future be used for the treatment of smallpox cases.
§ Mr. LoughlinA scheme to adapt another hospital, as an alternative to Penrhys Hospital, is included in the Welsh Hospital Board's capital programme for 1965–66 and this proposal is under examination by the Welsh Board of Health.
Until alternative arrangements have been made the Hospital Board have no alternative but to continue to regard 105W Penrhys as the smallpox hospital for the area.
Prior consultation with the Medical Officer of Health of the Borough of Rhondda on the possible use of Penrhys Hospital for any particular case where smallpox is suspected is not called for as he is aware of existing arrangements for its use.