§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the information and training offered to general practitioners in diagnosing meningitis; and if he will make a statement. [8760]
§ Mr. HoramThe chief medical officer issued advice on meningococcal infection in his update letter of October—CMO update 7—which is sent to all doctors, copies of which are available in the Library. In this letter, doctors were reminded of the seasonal increase in meningococcal infection, were given advice on the early diagnosis of suspected cases and on the need for antibiotic treatment and urgent referral to hospital. The letter follows on from previous reminders which have been sent to general practitioners in the past. Additionally, articles in medical journals continually emphasise to doctors advice similar to that issued by the chief medical officer.
The training received by GP trainees during their vocational training year covers infectious diseases. This is supplemented and developed further through the inclusion of infectious diseases in continuing medical education programmes.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information is made available on a nationwide basis to parents in care of infants of the symptoms of meningococcal disease and the procedures that should be adopted once the symptoms have been observed; and what plans he has to increase the information made available during an outbreak of 'flu; [8893]
(2) what steps his Department is currently taking to inform the public of the symptoms of meningitis and the procedures that should be adopted at the outset of such symptoms; [8896]
(3) the leaflet produced by the Department on meningitis was first made available; and in what manner the leaflet has been distributed. [8894]
§ Mr. HoramHealth visitors provide new parents with the Health Education Authority's leaflet "A Guide to Childhood Immunisations", which includes advice on recognising meningitis. In February 1994, new public information leaflets on meningitis and septicaemia were sent to all general practitioners to be made available to the public. Copies of both leaflets are available in the Library. Supplies of the leaflet were provided to the National Meningitis Trust and Meningitis Research.596W Leaflets have also been distributed to college students and there was a further wider distribution to students in September 1995. The Department of Health also provides funding to the National Meningitis Trust to support its valuable information and support work. The trust is active in raising public awareness immediately before, and during, the winter peak. Advice on recognising meningitis can be found in the Health Education Authority's "Birth to Five" book which is issued to all first-time parents. The Department of Health also contributes to the many newspaper articles and television and radio programmes that appear during the winter peak.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for health what procedures are currently in place to inform staff working in nurseries, playgroups and schools of the symptoms of meningitis and the procedures that should be adopted once the symptoms have been observed; and if his Department plans to update these procedures. [8895]
§ Mr. HoramThis is a matter for local arrangement by the local consultant in communicable disease control. Revised guidelines for outbreak management of meningococcal infection, prepared by the meningococcal working party of the Public Health Laboratory Service, were published in the "Communicable Disease Report" vol. 5, No. 13 in December, copies of which are available in the Library. The guidance has been sent to all public health physicians including consultants in communicable disease control and includes advice on notifying nurseries, playgroups and schools.