HC Deb 14 July 1949 vol 467 cc648-9
38. Mr. Blackburn

asked the Minister of Health whether he has completed his inquiry into conditions at Rubery Hill Mental Hospital; and with what result.

Mr. Bevan

Yes, Sir. As the answer is rather long I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Blackburn

In view of the fact that on the last occasion this matter was mentioned in the House a statement was made that a censure had been passed on the hospital at the inquest, will the Minister make it clear that no censure was passed on the medical authorities of the hospital at this inquest, or in any other case?

Mr. Bevan

If the hon. Member will read the report in HANSARD he will see that those points have been covered. In view of the fact that so much public attention has been directed to this case, I thought it desirable that I should make a very full report.

Following is the answer:

The Questions in the House involved three main issues:

  1. (a) The alleged wrongful certification of old people.
  2. (b) The understaffing of Rubery Hill Mental Hospital.
  3. (c) The circumstances attending the death of a patient at that hospital.

The result of the inquiries on the first point is that, as yet, not a single name has been forthcoming of any person who could be shown to have been wrongfully certified under the Lunacy Acts. The Ministry of Health deprecate the certification of old people if it can possibly be avoided and if beds are available outside mental hospitals; and recommendations have been made to the regional boards in this matter. The necessity for certification may arise in some cases because at the moment the only suitable accommodation available is in our mental hospitals; but no case has come to notice in which a person certified was not of unsound mind.

Two officers of the Ministry of Health have visited Rubery Hill Hospital and reported in detail on the nursing position. The female staff has recently increased by six, and active steps are being taken to stimulate recruitment. The inspecting officers have made some detailed recommendations which will be communicated to the management committee of the hospital. In general, they found that the staff is properly controlled, that the administration of the hospital is good, and that the staff work as a happy team.

The circumstances attending the death of a patient (Mrs. Walker) were the subject of an inquest by the coroner sitting with the jury. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned, and the matter was dealt with in the Debate on the Adjournment of the House on 3rd June.