§ 27. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement in respect of the investigation into the deficiency in the accounts for patients' money at the De la Pole Mental Hospital.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Derek Walker-Smith)The police and auditors' investigations are still proceeding, and all I can say at present is that two members of the nursing staff have been convicted at Hull Magistrates Court for offences relating to the deficiency in patients' money.
§ Mr. DoddsWhile thanking the Minister for what he has said, but regretting the nature of it, may I ask him to bear in mind the fact that I have complained bitterly on a number of occasions in the past about the slackness in some mental hospitals in dealing with patients' money? Is he satisfied that the best systems are introduced to obviate this sort of thing as far as possible and to give the patients a deeper sense of justice in financial matters?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithMy auditors are considering, in conjunction with the hospital management committee, further steps which can be taken to minimise the risk of any such occurrence in future. Meanwhile, I should like to make it clear to the hon. Member and to the House generally that patients who entrusted their money for safe custody will, of course, in no way suffer.