§ Mrs. Castleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of patients who in the last year were poisoned in hospitals.
§ Sir K. JosephI assume the right hon. Lady is referring to food poisoning. The latest year for which figures have been analysed is 1969, when there were 57 outbreaks in hospitals involving 570 cases and excretors, and these include food borne infections and cross infection.