HC Deb 26 June 1899 vol 73 cc594-5
MR. J. P. SMITH (Lanark, Partick)

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate what is the average daily population of Duke Street Prison, Glasgow; whether he is aware that there are no hospital wards other than association cells used as such; whether he is aware that the hon. Member for Partick on a recent casual visit to the prison found a sick untried female prisoner being nursed by two convicted prisoners; and, whether the association of prisoners, without the observation of an officer, is the only means of attending to sick prisoners within the prison.

* THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. A. GRAHAM MURRAY,) Buteshire

The average daily population of Duke Street Prison is 489, of whom nearly three-fourths are females. It contains two hospital wards for females and one for males. The sick untried prisoner whom the hon. Member found, had been on previous occasions convicted 13 times. She was suffering from fits, and was associated by order of the medical officer with two other prisoners who were carefully selected by the matron who has had much experience. Prisoners thus associated are regularly visited by the prison officials, and receive all requisite care from the medical officer and nurse warders.

MR. J. P. SMITH

Are the hospital wards anything else except association cells?

* MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY

I believe that to be the case.

MR. J. P. SMITH

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that at the Duke Street Prison, on 14th October last, a prisoner, Mary Carroll, under treatment for a gangrened foot, was left alone in an ordinary cell; that, being taken seriously ill in the night, the nurse warder was summoned, and Mary Carroll was removed to an association cell already occupied by a sick prisoner under the charge of two other prisoners; that she was left in charge of these two prisoners, who about an hour afterwards rang the bell and reported that she had a had turn, and, that on the arrival of the nurse warder, she was found to be dead; what was the report of the doctor upon the case; what were the qualifications of the nurse warder to judge as to the condition of the patient; whether any steps have since been taken to ensure that prisoners seized with serious illness shall receive attention; and, whether he will provide that in so large a prison there shall be a proper hospital where all the sick can be placed, and a properly trained nurse in constant attendance.

* MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY

The case of Mary Carroll is substantially as stated by the hon. Member. The report of the doctor was to the effect that she was suffering from gangrene of the toes of her right foot. Although she regarded it herself as of no consequence, he ordered her to be put to bed and placed under treatment. On the morning of the 14th, October she complained of breathlessness, she was removed to the hospital ward and attended to by the sick nurse, till she felt better. An hour afterwards she had a sudden attack and died. The symptoms and manner of death point to a clot of blood as the immediate cause. The nurse warder had acted for more than 2½ years in the hospital wards of an English asylum, she had had 15 months' training in a Scottish asylum, and is a regularly certificated nurse. The medical officer is quite satisfied with her. When this prison was rebuilt the hospital accommodation was arranged in consultation with the medical officer. The chief medical adviser does not consider that a separate hospital building is a necessity at Duke Street Prison, and the Prison Commissioners are not at present prepared to recommend that there should be one.