§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what Her Majesty's Government are doing to protect Health Service workers from contracting illness resulting from their environment;
(2) when he expects the appointment of a consultant occupational health physician to be made in each region.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have issued guidance from time to time on safety and on the provision of occupational health services, most recently last October in health notice (82)33.
Health authorities have been advised that the aim in each region should be to identify one occupational health physician who would be able to give advice to all districts and local authorities in that region on the development and co-ordination of occupational health services. It is not thought necessary nor would there be sufficient numbers of suitably experienced candidates to allow these appointments to be at consultant level in all regions.