27. Mr. J. Hendersonasked the Minister of Health whether, with a view to reducing the high death rate from tuberculosis in mental hospitals, he will consider the desirability of securing high priority for building work in connection with mental hospitals; ameliorating the conditions in them so far as the war permits; to secure better ventilation, more and better food, etc.; and ensuring as far as possible that mental hospitals taken over for war purposes shall be released to enable the appropriate authorities to deal with overcrowding.
§ Mr. WillinkI regret that it is quite impracticable under present conditions to give priority to the construction of new accommodation at mental hospitals. It is also impracticable to release during the war the accommodation which has been taken over for the emergency hospitals scheme or for the use of the Forces. I can assure my hon. Friend, however, that the general conditions in mental hospitals, including ventilation and dietaries, are kept constantly under review in the interests of the health of the patients.
Mr. HendersonIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that at a meeting recently in Manchester disquiet was expressed at the fairly high rise in mortality 965 rates among the persons indicated in the Question, and cannot the Minister do something to ease it?
§ Mr. WillinkI was not aware of this particular meeting, but I can tell my hon. Friend that the death rate in these hospitals, though it rose at the beginning of the war, has fallen considerably.
§ Mr. WillinkI have not the figures for that period with me but I can tell my hon. Friend that the figures have fallen and that we are hoping for a considerable fall in the tuberculosis rate.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman give attention to the serious problem that arises in some of these hospitals owing to some sections having to be closed because they cannot get staff?