§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many area health authorities in Britain use commercial laundry services in full or in part; what instructions they give to commercial laundries with regard to the possibility of infection from the linen to be processed; what steps they take to protect commercial laundry workers by way of advice with regard to the possible risks from infected linen; what steps they take to see that any instructions given to commercial laundries that are used for processing of linen are strictly observed; what progress has been made towards adopting European Economic Community requirements for processing hospital linen; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungContracts with commercial laundries are made by individual health authorities and information about them is not centrally available. Hospitals place fouled and infected linen in marked plastic bags, and I should expect contractors to be told of any special requirements for handling it when contracts are made. The Department has drawn the attention of health authorities148W report by the college, of which the Department has received a copy, on the prevention of arterial disease in general practice. It would be premature for me to comment on the report while it is still in draft.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have died of diabetes in the United Kingdom in each year since 1970.
§ Sir George YoungThe information is contained in the following table:
to precautions against possible infection and for the protection of laundry staff. Additionally, the Department has informed the Association of British Launderers and Cleaners of procedures used in NHS hospital laundries to reduce the risk of infection and safeguard laundry workers. It is for the health authorities and contractors to see that suitable procedures are carried out. I am not aware of any European Community requirements for processing hospital linen.