HC Deb 24 November 1970 vol 807 cc82-3W
Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths took place in Scotland during the last year as a result of hepatitis; in what hospital areas; and how many were doctors, nurses and patients.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

The numbers of deaths registered in Scotland during 1969 as due to infectious hepatitis or serum hepatitis are shown by hospital board region, in the table below. None were deaths of doctors or nurses.

Deaths in 1969 from
Hospital Region Infectious hepatitis Serum hepatitis
Northern 1
North Eastern 1
Eastern 3
South Eastern 5
Western 9 1
Scotland 19 1

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number, and what was the duration, of the stay in hospitals, during the last year, of patients with severe illness from hepatitis.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

The number of patients who were discharged from or died in hospital during 1969 with a diagnosis of infective hepatitis or serum hepatitis and the average duration of stay are set out below.

Number Average Duration of Stay in days Number of deaths in hospital
Infective hepatitis 976 17 14
Serum hepatitis 20 19 1

Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give consideration for special payments to nurses working in renal dialysis units in respect of the danger they incur from infective hepatitis and the specialist training needed for this work.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

Nurses' pay is a matter for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council. The question of hazards present in the treatment of chronic renal failure is being studied by an expert group under Lord Rosenheim.