§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will appoint an independent inquiry into the situation at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, following the reported postponement of a hip operation because the theatre was dirty; and whether they will take steps to dismiss the contractors responsible.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonIt is the responsibility of the Cambridge Health Authority to ensure satisfactory standards of cleanliness at Addenbrooke's Hospital. I understand that the main reason for the cancellation of a hip operation last month was the discovery of dust in a part of the operating theatre not included in the contractor's cleaning specifications. The district health authority is now revising the specifications to ensure that this situation does not recur.