§ 53. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health, in view of the public concern that money due to some of the patients at the Del La Pole Mental Hospital cannot he accounted for, if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe police and the auditors are investigating an apparent deficiency of £52 in the accounts for patients' money. I am not in a position to comment until these investigations have been completed.
§ 54 and 55. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health (1) how many men patients at the Del La Pole Mental Hospital worked in or around the hospital during the week ended 28th November; what was the average number of hours worked during that week per male patient; and what was the average payment per patient in this respect;
(2) how many of the male patients at the Del La Pole Mental Hospital, engaged during the week ended 28th November on work in or around the hospital or on the farm, were paid wholly in cigarettes or tobacco; and in how many cases it was used as part payment in lieu of money.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am informed that 234 male patients worked in or around the hospital during the week ended 28th November, and that the average number of hours worked was 22. The average cash payment was 2s. 9d., but in addition 147 patients were paid wholly and 30 partly in goods from the hospital shop.
§ Mr. DoddsIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman stating that patients are still being paid in cigarettes and 30 tobacco? Is he saying they are still being paid in kind, in view of the undertaking which was given several months ago to stop this practice?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithAs the hon. Gentleman will recall, in my circular of 4th May last, I told hospital authorities that I considered the payment of patients in kind rather than cash to be undesirable save only where patients are incapable of appreciating the value of money or of deciding how to spend it. I intend to ask this hospital management committee whether more patients cannot properly be paid in cash.
§ Mr. DoddsWhile thanking the Minister for the answer he has just given, may I ask him whether he will bear in mind that many of us who have taken a very great interest in mental hospitals look upon this hospital as one of the best mental hospitals in the country, run by a medical superintendent who is both progressive and humane? If this is the best that can be done, heaven help some of the patients in less progressive hospitals.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am glad to hear the hon. Gentleman's testimony to this hospital. It is fully confirmed in a recent report by the Board of Control Commissioners who testified to the effectiveness of the treatment of the patients and praised the efforts made at this hospital to employ them usefully. On the general point of payment in kind, the hon. Gentleman knows my view. I will follow it up.