§ 42 and 44. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Heatlh (1) what annual reports are made to him of the number of complaints of alleged brutal or violent treatment of patients in mental hospitals; how many of those complaints were investigated and with what result; and how many male or female nurses were dismissed or otherwise punished for those offences;
(2) what action is taken by him or the Board of Control in respect of public statements alleging specific incidents of brutal treatment of patients in menial hospitals, both in respect of the investigation of those statements and of disciplinary measures against those on the hospital staffs against whom the allegations are proved.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithNo such annual reports are made; but mental hospitals are required to notify the Board of Control of the dismissal, or resignation to escape dismissal, of any member of the nursing staff who has been, or is about to be, dismissed on the ground of misconduct in connection with a patient. During 1958 the Board were notified of two such cases.
All complaints of ill-treatment, whether made publicly or addressed to hospital authorities, the Board of Control or the Ministry of Health, are fully investigated if the necessary particulars can 806 be provided. Disciplinary action is, in the first place, a matter for the employing authority, but the Board of Control have power to authorise proceedings against anyone who has ill-treated a patient in a mental hospital.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman himself satisfied with this procedure, or has he any reason to suppose that the reports as given do not indicate the exact circumstances and frequency of these alleged complaints? Has he made any special investigations from time to time to see whether in fact instances which have taken place have not been properly recorded?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am satisfied that the procedure works as I have described. Complaints of ill-treatment may be an aspect of the patient's mental condition and therefore without an objective basis, but all of them must be and are fully investigated and I attach the highest importance to that principle.
§ 43. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, in a recent television broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation, an ex-patient of a mental hospital made charges of violent and brutal treatment of patients, which he had witnessed; if he will request the Corporation to supply him with the script of the broadcast, with a view to taking such further steps as may be necessary in consultation with the British Broadcasting Corporation and the hospital board concerned in order to maintain public confidence in the mental health services.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI have asked for and received the script from the B.B.C, and I am in touch with the Director-General about certain questions arising on this programme. In order that full inquiries may be made, I have asked to be given full particulars of the incidents referred to in the programme in question. Further action must, of course, await their receipt.
§ Mr. SorensenWas the Minister's attention drawn to this particular television item at the time it was given? If so, why was action not taken immediately? Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman appreciate that the impression left with many people was that the allegations, of an ex parte and uncorroborated nature, were nevertheless 807 characteristic of treatment in mental hospitals? Although that is not so, does he not feel that this is a very serious matter and that such items should not be given unless corroborated, or unless it is made perfectly clear that they are seriously open to doubt?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithAction was taken immediately. The only action open to me as Minister, as the hon. Member will appreciate, was to ask for the script and then, in the light of that, to have further inquiries made into the parts of the broadcast to which objection could be taken. I am not sure what else the hon. Member has in mind by "at once". It was not open to me in any event to prevent the programme, as he will understand.
§ Dr. SummerskillIs the Minister aware that it is not unusual for ex-mental patients to make allegations of this kind against nurses who work in mental homes where they are often among the finest in the nursing profession, being called upon to do uncongenial work and at all times to restrain their tempers? In view of that, will he make strong representations to the B.B.C. that under no circumstances should it sensationalise this tragic illness, mental illness, because on such occasions patients in mental hospitals all over the country watch the incident and it is neither in their interests nor in those of the nurses that the B.B.C. should make cheap propaganda on television in this way?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe Corporation is already in possession of my views on this matter and, in particular, as to how unfortunate it would be if a programme of this sort deterred someone from seeking mental treatment when he would otherwise have done so. I should say in fairness to the British Broadcasting Corporation that hitherto it has done a lot to help to foster a balanced public view of the importance of mental disorder. I wholly agree with what the right hon. Lady has said about nurses and others working in our mental hospitals. They work under very difficult conditions, and I am sure that the whole House would join in a tribute to their work.
§ Mr. PagetWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman further agree that one cannot have a balanced view unless all sides are shown and that the B.B.C. has 808 done its best to give a very fair picture, and that an attempt to put a gag on certain matters which occur, if only occasionally, would be highly undesirable?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThere is no question of a gag. I have already said that hitherto the B.B.C. has done its best to present a balanced picture. What is in doubt here, as the hon. and learned Gentleman will appreciate, is whether this programme was a balanced programme, or whether it picked out and concentrated upon features tending to show our mental hospitals in an adverse light without giving an appropriate opportunity for comment on or correction of those statements.