§ 32. Mr. Doughtyasked the Minister of Health which officials of mental hospitals are responsible for the discharge of patients; on what basis they are remunerated; and whether their remuneration is related in any way to the number of patients in the hospital.
§ Mr. VosperNo official is authorised to discharge a patient in a mental hospital, but any two members of the hospital management committee, when ordering the discharge of a temporary or certified patient, must do so with the advice in writing of the medical superintendent. The salary of medical superintendents is generally based on length of service in their clinical grade and not on the number of patients.
§ Mr. DoughtyIt therefore follows, does it not, that if beds in a mental hospital are empty, the officials responsible for the discharge of patients suffer no financial loss?
§ Mr. VosperYes, that is true.