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Health
authority advised on how to get single jabs
BY Lorraine Fraser, Medical Correspondent
(Filed: 26/08/2001)
THE health authority that has accused a doctor of
putting children at risk by
prescribing an alternative to the controversial MMR injection has
itself given details to parents of how to obtain single-dose vaccines.
In at least one case, The Telegraph can reveal, Cathrine
Roberts, the administrative manager of child and family services at
Worcestershire Health Authority, wrote personally to an anxious mother
giving telephone numbers for Desumo, the company employing Dr Peter
Mansfield to give single-dose injections.
Switchboard operators at the health authority also gave
the information to parents calling in to ask how they could arrange for
their children to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella
separately, rather than have the combined MMR jab.
Dr Mansfield has been ordered to appear before the
emergency Interim Orders Committee of the General Medical Council after
Brian McCloskey, the director of public health for Worcestershire,
asked it to act to "protect patients".
Prof McCloskey complained to the GMC that the former
family doctor was acting contrary to Department of Health advice by
prescribing separate vaccinations for children at the twice-monthly
private clinics run by Desumo in Worcester.
If the committee finds against him he could be barred
from medical practice, so the disclosure today that the health
authority was effectively referring patients to Dr Mansfield even weeks
after its senior public health official wrote to the GMC on June 7 is a
serious embarrassment.
The GMC case, first revealed by The Telegraph, has
re-ignited the row
over the safety of MMR vaccinations, which some scientists fear may
be linked with autism and bowel disorders.
In particular it has brought criticism of the
Government's decision to withdraw single measles vaccine from the
National Health Service, thereby restricting the choice available to parents
who are unsure about the triple vaccine.
Donna Hinton, who inquired about single vaccines for her
15-month-old daughter Holly, said last night that she had been
delighted to receive a letter dated July 19 from Mrs Roberts telling
her about Desumo. The note, on official paper, had arrived within a
week of her inquiry.
Mrs Hinton, of Hailsham, East Sussex said: "I was
so relieved and excited. I knew I didn't want Holly to have MMR and I
was desperately seeking somewhere to have the single vaccinations. I
have now made an appointment with Desumo for September."
A survey of clients who have attended the clinics run by
Desumo since May has also established that the authority helped many
others, says Debbie Ryding, the company's founder. Of 184 replies from
parents, eight per cent said they had learnt about Desumo from
Worcestershire Health Authority.
The information emerged as the GMC postponed a scheduled
hearing into the case. Dr Mansfield, who has defended his conduct, had
been ordered to appear on Wednesday. He has now been told the case will
be heard at the end of September.
He said last night: "I am disappointed and
perplexed. Why should they want to delay? It is their idea that the
matter is urgent, not mine. We are still confident, however, that in
the end the GMC will hear this fairly, decide justly and we will be
fully vindicated."
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