HC Deb 01 March 1927 vol 203 c213
65. Colonel DAY

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the dead body of an inmate, who died in one of the wards of Swaffield Road Workhouse, Wandsworth, was left unshrouded from 8.40 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. recently, notwithstanding the fact that a number of old, people in the ward, some of whom were more than 85 years of age, were served with dinner whilst the corpse was thus exposed; and will he cause an inquiry to be held into the whole matter of administration at the institution mentioned?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)

My right hon. Friend has made inquiries in this case and finds that although there was a certain amount of delay in providing a suitable shroud, the body was decently covered throughout and the bed was properly screened. He understands that the guardians are already engaged in a full inquiry into the administration of the infirmary wards of their institution.