§ 56. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the forcible removal to a lunatic asylum of a sane woman from her home in Bedford Park, West London, by servants of the Middlesex County Council, who refused to verify her statement that her name was not that of the person they stated they had been ordered to remove; and whether he will set up a committee to inquire into the whole question of the removal and detention of persons alleged to be insane, and to make recommendations with a view to preventing such mistakes in future?
§ 57. Mr. McENTEEasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Broad, who was forcibly removed from her home and confined in a mental hospital and was afterwards found to have been mistaken for another person living at a different address; and, in view of the public concern at the possibility of persons being removed and detained in such institutions to-day, if he will set up a public tribunal to inquire into the existing regulations and to suggest such new safeguards as will prevent any arrest and detention of sane persons in future?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)The occurrence has been reported to my right hon. Friend by the Middlesex County Council, who are the authority primarily responsible in the matter. The whole circumstances are being investigated by the Council, and the result of the investigation will be reported to him without delay. My right hon. Friend must consider this report before he decides what action on his part is desirable.
§ Sir W. DAVISONCan my hon. Friend say whether it is a fact that no written particulars were given to the officers of the Middlesex County Council who were instructed as to the removal of this patient, and that they were instructed by telephone; and will he suggest to the Middlesex County Council, or whoever is the authority, that it is very undesirable that matters of great importance of this kind should be ordered by telephone without written instructions, and, indeed, 364 whether it would not be possible for the officer certifying a person as mentally deficient to be present so as to identify the patient?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREAs I stated in the answer, the precise facts are under inquiry, but I think I can say that, if the facts as represented in the Press are true, after due inquiry has been held, the whole House will desire to join my right hon. Friend in expressing deep concern and regret that an incident of such a grave nature should have taken place.