§ 70. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set up a special emergency unit to deal with outbreaks of gastro-enteritis in children's hospitals; and if he will now lay down a code of conduct to be adopted in the case of future outbreaks.
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§ Mr. CrossmanIn view of the provision which already exists I see no need for a special emergency unit.
Gastro-enteritis is a commonly occurring disease and the hospital services are therefore familiar with it. It varies widely in severity, and is not constantly associated with any one identifiable causative agent or group of agents; therefore, each outbreak has to be handled in the light of the local situation.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken, in the light of representations made to him, to alert hospitals to the dangers of virulent strains of gasto-enteritis and to take immediate steps to isolate outbreaks.
§ Mr. CrossmanProvision already exists for the isolation and treatment of children admitted with this disease to children's hospitals or infectious disease units or who develop it while in hospital, having been admitted for some other reason. Advice has been given to hospitals on the control of communicable disease in departmental and other publications.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assistance is being given to children and what research is being undertaken into the problem of those children who have recovered from acute gastro-enteritis but are left with residual symptoms.
§ Mr. CrossmanChildren who recover from acute gastro-enteritis are not, as a rule, left with residual symptoms. The acute illness may last for a varying period of time according to circumstances. The problem of gastro-enteritis is being carefully studied by specialists in many hospitals throughout the country.