§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals or other National Health Service units receive water from(a) boreholes and (b) non-mains sources.
§ Mr. FreemanInformation on the number of hospitals or other NHS units receiving water from boreholes or other non-mains sources is not available. Health authorities are, however, required to comply with the water byelaws in force and comprehensive advice on water supply and quality was issued to them most recently in the DH code of practice, the control of legionellae in health care premises.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what inspection is undertaken of water supplies used(a) in the Queen's medical centre, Nottingham and (b) in National Health Service hospitals as standard procedure.
§ Mr. FreemanIn general, responsibility for the quality of water, from whatever source, rests with the appropriate water authority. The quality of water stored and distributed within all health care premises is mainly governed by inspection and maintenance of plant and equipment in those premises and I refer to my other reply to him today.