NHS: Prebiotics

Debate between Lord Walpole and Lord Rea

Wednesday 17th November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Walpole]

My Lords—

[Lord Rea]

My Lords, could not a strong case be made for the Department of Health to commission a suitably designed pilot study of prebiotics to see whether they are beneficial in the prevention of Clostridium difficile and other conditions?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, as I have said, we will continue to look at the matter with interest. Of course the department has a very sizeable clinical research budget, which is open to all bids of a high quality. There is no reason why a bid should not be made on this issue as well.