§ Sir Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there is adequate water supply to all National Health Service hospitals and in particular that all necessary steps have been taken to protect persons suffering from kidney complaints during the current industrial dispute; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergIt is agreed by both sides in this dispute that every effort should be made to avoid industrial action which would prejudice public health and public safety.
We do not therefore expect there to be any prolonged interruption in water supplies to hospitals, but health 188W authorities have been advised to make contingency plans which might include reducing admissions or transfer of patients to hospitals which are least likely to be affected.
Health and water authorities have the addresses of kidney patients on home dialysis, and interruption of water supply to such a patient should be quickly restored or it might become necessary to admit the patient to a hospital renal unit.