§ 38. Mr. TURTONasked the Minister of Health how many cases have been brought to his notice during the last 12 months of voluntary patients being lodged in the same ward or room in a mental institution, hospital, nursing home, or place approved by the Board of Control, under Section one of the Mental Treatment Act, 1930, as certified patients; and whether he will circularise local authorities, and other persons in charge of such institutions, hospitals, or places, regarding the undesirability of such an arrangement?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Shakespeare)One ease has been brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend in which this matter was the subject of complaint. That case was investigated and it did not appear that there was any substantial ground for complaint. The classification of mental patients has to be based mainly on their condition and symptoms and it is not necessarily desirable to provide separate accommodation for voluntary patients even if it were possible to do so in the present stage of shortage of bed accommodation. My right hon. Friend is advised that the present arrangements are generally as satisfactory as is practicable in the circumstances and the number of voluntary patients is steadily increasing. He does not think it would be advisable to adopt the suggestion in the last part of the question.