§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the nature of the advanced medical work being carried out on diabetic patients in the Newcastle upon Tyne area; if he will make such facilities available elsewhere in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanUnder the direction of Professor George Alberti, two experimental machines are in use at the Royal Victoria infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. Funds have been provided by the British Diabetic Association, the University Grants Committee and manufacturers. Each machine acts as an artificial pancreas, is sensitive to the blood sugar level of a patient to whom it is connected and injects an appropriate amount of insulin into that patient.
306WThe development of these machines will undoubtedly be watched with interest by the medical profession and by health authorities which will ultimately have to make decisions on their use elsewhere in the country.