HC Deb 02 February 1987 vol 109 cc549-50W
Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have died with AIDS stated as a cause of death on the death certificate; what is his estimate of the total number of deaths where AIDS was a contributory factor but did not explicitly appear as such on the death certificate; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

There have been 220 deaths registered in England and Wales up to the end of 1986 where the cause of death AIDS or a similar term has appeared on the original death certifications.

We cannot make a sensible estimate of the number of deaths where HIV infection was a contributory factor but did not appear on the death certificate. However, by the end of December 1986, 285 deaths from AIDS in England and Wales had been reported to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has given to the prison staff and medical service and to special hospitals about the risk of the spread of HIV.

Mr. Mellor

I have been asked to reply.

Prison service management centrally, regionally and locally, has been active in disseminating to prison staff wide ranging information and advice in the form of operational guidelines, training programmes and specially convened meetings. Prison medical officers have also received advice on the medical management of cases and regular and detailed briefing on epidemiological and clinical matters. These measures will continue.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has issued comprehensive guidance to the special hospitals. The guidance covers education, staff training and preventive measures, and advice on serotesting and patient and staff care. The guidance stresses the need for full information and counselling for staff and patients in relation to both the risk of transmission of HIV infection within the hospital and all aspects of serotesting, particularly the implications of a positive result. The Department of Health and Social Security is in touch with some centres about places for special hospital staff on courses in counselling skills. The hospitals will continue to receive relevant general guidance which is issued periodically by the DHSS and will be given further specific guidance if this is considered necessary.