HC Deb 16 July 1992 vol 211 cc898-9W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what inquiries and written reports from relevant agencies are required following an outbreak of legionnaire's disease in a hospital.

Dr. Mawhinney

A case of legionnaire's disease in a hospital would be investigated by the hospital's control of infection doctor, and his colleagues, who may seek advice from external sources, including the local consultant in communicable disease control, if he considers this necessary. In the event of an outbreak an infection control action group would be established, the local consultant in communicable disease control would be involved, and the group would prepare a report for the health authority and/or local authority. In addition the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988 impose a duty on the local authority proper officer, who in many cases is the consultant in communicable disease control, to immediately inform the Chief Medical Officer of any serious outbreak of any disease. A voluntary system of reporting of cases or outbreaks of communicable disease to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre also exists in England and Wales.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the numbers of hospital-acquired cases of infection from legionnaire's disease nationally in 1990 and 1991; and in which hospitals they occurred.

Dr. Mawhinney

A total of 187 cases of legionnaire's disease were reported in England and Wales to the national surveillance scheme for legionnaire's disease at the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre in 1990. Three of these cases were associated with hospitals and four other cases may possibly have been associated with a hospital stay.

In 1991 there were 111 cases—provisional—of legionnaire's disease in residents of England and Wales. Three of these cases were associated with a hospital and a further 10 cases may possibly have been associated with a hospital stay.

Cases are reported under a voluntary national surveillance scheme and identification of individual hospitals would jeopardise national infectious desease control.