HC Deb 16 February 1939 vol 343 cc1889-91
53. Mr. Lyons

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to a report on the internal conditions of the Nottingham Isolation Hospital to the effect that certain wards and beds are vermin infested; whether he has seen the complaints to this effect from nurses and former patients; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

Mr. Elliot

I will cause inquiry to be made into this matter, and will communicate with my hon. and learned Friend in due course.

Mr. Lyons

Will the right hon. Gentleman himself, in view of the public allegations as to the condition of this institution, authorise a public inquiry to be made, to discover whether those allegations are true or not and, if they are true, to put an end to a state of affairs which, on the face of it, is quite intolerable?

Mr. Elliot

I have to satisfy myself, as far as I can, by seeing what I can ascertain by private inquiry. I do not think it desirable to say that there shall be a public inquiry without more investigation.

Mr. Lyons

May I press my right hon. Friend as to whether he has seen statements made by very responsible people, including the vicar of the parish and nurses employed in the hospital, that a state of things exists in this institution which is quite intolerable; and, if that is so, is it not right that the matter should be sifted and probed, and the facts ascertained at the earliest possible moment?

Mr. Elliot

I have seen the statements. I have also been in communication with the local authority who greatly resent the statement made. I think I must give the local authority an opportunity of dealing with this matter.

54. Mr. Lyons

asked the Minister of Health when an inspection was last made by any officer of his Department of the internal conditions of the Isolation Hospital, the City Institution, and the City Hospital, respectively, all in Nottingham?

Mr. Elliot

The last complete inspection of the whole institution was made on 18th to 21st January and 10th and 11th February, 1932. One of my medical officers inspected the City Hospital on 17th and 18th October, 1938. The same medical officer and my general inspector made an inspection of the City Institution on 30th and 31st January, 1939, and also visited the City Hospital on these dates.

Mr. Lyons

Can my right hon. Friend say when it was that an officer of his Department visited the institution about which these complaints are now made?

Mr. Elliot

I have just said that it has been visited on all those dates. The institution about which this complaint has been made was part of this group of institutions of. which I have been speaking.

Mr. Lyons

Is not that the 1932 inspection? In view of the statements which have been brought to light, does my right hon. Friend not think it would be proper to have an inspection of this institution by an officer of his Department forthwith?

Mr. Elliot

Not at all. As I have said, inspections were made in 1938, and again in 1939 as part of the general inspection, which, of course, were made by an officer of my Department.

Mr. Markham

Did these inspections reveal an unsatisfactory state of affairs at that time?

Mr. Elliot

I think it undesirable to go into this matter by question and answer. Rather remarkable allegations which have been made against the institution by certain individuals are being investigated.