§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the demand for sterile water for use in the National Health Service is now being met without any need for such water to be imported into the United Kingdom.
§ Dr. OwenThe principal manufacturer in this country is now producing 140,000 litres of sterile water a month in his new plant and in March 1976 this figure will be doubled. About 90,000 litres a month are being imported to fulfil orders placed by the manufacturer before the new plant was in production but these will be completed by March and no further orders are being placed overseas.
165W
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement, in amplification of the answer given by the Minister of State on 30th October 1975, dealing with the whole question of the relationship between the supply of sterile water for use in the National Health Service and the demand; and what steps are currently being taken to ensure that sterile water is easily and abundantly available wherever it is needed.
§ Dr. OwenThe Department is preparing guidance for issue to the National Health Service on the correct standards of quality that should be adopted for the various uses of sterile water. For topical use sterile water of acceptable quality can be produced by most hospitals and sterile water for other use can be produced by hospitals with proper manufacturing facilities. In conjunction with the quantities that are being and will be produced from commercial sources there should be no difficulty in satisfying the National Health Service demand for this product.