HC Deb 01 May 1973 vol 855 cc262-3W
31. Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what safeguards are employed by the hospital authorities to screen both in-patients and out patients for infectious diseases, particularly smallpox.

Sir K. Joseph

Nurses and doctors are always alert to the possibility that any patient may have some infectious disease but hospital authorities do not normally arrange to screen either in-patients or out-patients for such diseases. On becoming aware that a patient is suffering from an infectious disease, a hospital doctor or nurse would be expected to take action. appropriate to the circumstances of the case, to guard against spread of infection.