HC Deb 11 November 1957 vol 577 cc605-6
42. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Health whether he has completed his consideration of a resolution passed at the annual general meeting of the Prison Officers Association, a copy of which has been sent to him, which deplores the housing at Rampton of non-criminal mental patients with murderers and other mentally defective criminals in that it causes great distress to relatives and has a had effect on non-criminal patients; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.

Mr. Walker-Smith

I cannot trace the receipt of any such resolution from the Prison Officers Association; but if one were sent to me, I should, of course, consider it.

Mr. Dodds

Is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman already aware that the prison officers are correct when they say that non-criminal types of mental defectives are taken to Rampton where they are accommodated with murderers and others, and is not this a contravention of all the undertakings given to Parliament? Should not the Minister's own common sense tell him that to put non-criminal types with murderers is not the best way of making them well again to go out into the community?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I understand the position to be that patients who have been charged with or convicted of murder and subsequently found to be suffering from mental defect are, it is true, generally kept in the central wards for longer than others for security reasons, but apart from that, the classification of patients is by mental condition.

Mr. Dodds

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

48. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement in regard to the two men who have escaped from Rampton State Institution and the three men who have escaped from Moss Side State Institution; and for what length of time each of these men have been detained at these institutions.

Mr. Walker-Smith

The two patients who absconded from one of the villas at Rampton State Institution on 8th October were returned to the hospital on 9th October: of the three patients who escaped from Moss Side Hospital on 8th October, two were returned on 9th October and the third was returned on 12th October. The two patients from Rampton Hospital have been detained there, respectively, since 20th July, 1946, and 28th July, 1954. The three patients from Moss Side Hospital have been detained there, respectively, since 15th July, 1946, 28th March, 1955, and 2nd March, 1956.

Dr. Johnson

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the long and indefinite detentions associated with these hospitals do not exacerbate rather than cure the dangerous propensities for which these men are detained? Is he aware that many people are concerned at the system represented by these hospitals, and will he not order a special, independent inquiry into the working of them prior to the legislation which in due course he is proposing to introduce in this respect?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I will, of course, give careful consideration to all these matters in advance of any legislation which may be introduced, but I cannot accept the implication of my hon. Friend's Question that the method of administration calls for disquiet as a result of these episodes, or at all.