HC Deb 09 December 1957 vol 579 cc878-80
18. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Health whether, pending the introduction of new mental health legislation, he will so amend his regulations as to ensure that mental patients are permitted to write, without restriction, to Members of Parliament.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Derek Walker Smith)

This would require legislation, and, as I informed the hon. Member on 11th November, this is under consideration.

Mr. Dodds

Will the Minister bear in mind that, with the present slapdash methods of certification, the fact that the Board of Control was set up primarily to safeguard the liberty of the individual is now made a fiasco? Will he urge that as soon as possible patients should be allowed to write to their Members of Parliament like anyone else?

Mr. Walker-Smith

There are many good arguments for this course, but I cannot include among them the reference to slapdash certification, which I do not accept from the hon. Member.

28. Dr. Johnson

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that local authorities have in some cases approved doctors, for purposes of certification, who have no psychiatric practice other than their certifying duties and no continuing interest in the patients they recommend for admission to hospital; and, in view of his expressed intention to start implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission by administrative means, if he will instruct local authorities to cease employing such doctors forthwith.

Mr. Walker-Smith

My information is that, for the purposes for which their approval is required, local health authorities generally approve medical practitioners who are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, many of whom are directly employed by them in the exercise of their wider responsibilities for mental health services: this is, in fact, what the Royal Commission has recommended on this point.

Dr. Johnson

Despite what my right hon. and learned Friend says, may I ask whether he is not aware of the remarks of a prominent member of the Royal Medico Psychological Association in a paper to the Royal Society of Health in which he asked— Can we be sure of eliminating the certifying doctor approved by the local authority? in the same terms as I have put in my Question? Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware likewise that a great many of the unsatisfactory cases of certification are connected with doctors of this kind, and will he consider this matter very closely and perhaps take action?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I have stated what I understand to be the general practice and its relation to the recommendations of the Royal Commission. Of course, if my hon. Friend has any particular cases in mind, I will naturally look at them if he will be good enough to draw them to my attention.

Dr. Summerskill

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman not agree that the very fact that these doctors are approved doctors means that they are doctors of known competence?

Mr. Walker-Smith

Yes, certainly, I think the right hon. Lady and the House can be assured of that and, as I say, my understanding is that the local health authorities follow a satisfactory procedure in this matter.