§ 33. Mr. V. Yatesasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement concerning the death of three patients, and the outbreak of food poisoning which recently occurred at Hatton Mental Hospital.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. R. H. Turton)This outbreak at the Central Hospital, Hatton, occurred on the evening of 4th March in three wards for elderly female chronic sick patients. I regret to say that three of the patients have since died. An inquest is being held on two of these deaths. The Coroner has adjourned 821 it until next Thursday so that he may have before him the pathologist's report.
§ Mr. YatesIs the Minister aware that 34 per cent. of the female patients resident in mental hospitals in the Midlands, including Hatton, are suffering under extreme conditions of overcrowding? I appreciate that he cannot say more about Hatton now, but can he say what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people in these hospitals over the age of 65, as they are particularly vulnerable in the case of an outbreak of sickness?
§ Mr. TurtonI know that there is a considerable amount of overcrowding in the mental hospitals in that region, but at the Central Hospital at Hatton two new wards of 80 beds are almost completed, and that will improve the state of affairs at that hospital.