§ 55. Viscount CURZONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of a man, his wife, and one child, who are 392 reported to have died of starvation in Bermondsey Hospital; whether he can state how such a thing was possible; and what action he has taken, if possible?
§ Dr. ADDISONYes, Sir. Immediately my attention was called to the case I instructed one of my Inspectors to report upon it. The Medical Superintendent of the Infirmary reports that the man, his wife, and a child of four years old were admitted to the Infirmary on the 10th instant, all three suffering from pneumonia. The man died from pneumonia on the 13th instant. The wife was delivered of a still-born child on the 12th instant, and died of pneumonia on the 13th instant. The child of four is still in hospital. I propose to make further inquiries into this case.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWill the right hon. Gentleman, in making inquiries, strictly investigate the houses in which the people are living?
§ Dr. ADDISONI shall certainly do that.
§ Mr. BILLINGHaving regard to the circumstances which have come to light, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of a change in the present Regulations under which this type of case is catered for; and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that practically there is no relief in this particular type of case under the present poor law administration?
§ Dr. ADDISONI do not know to what my hon. Friend is referring.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability, in calling for a report on the cases that still exist in London, of seeing whether some comprehensive scheme could be introduced into the poor law administration with the view to preventing death rather than burying people after death?
§ Dr. ADDISONAll I can say is, that for several months we have been considering a comprehensive scheme relating to poor law reform and other matters arising out of it