§ 23. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many suicides there have been in Broadmoor Hospital during each of the past five years; what means of suicide were used; and what precautions against further suicides are being taken.
§ Mr. AlisonIn the five years ended December 1972 there were 11 cases. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a breakdown of this figure and the means adopted.
In general, prevention lies in skilled observation by staff, but in appropriate cases patients are secluded and deprived of material which might be used to harm themselves.
§ Mr. DribergEspecially in view of what the hon. Gentleman has just said about skilled observation, is he aware of the recent case of a young girl patient in Broadmoor who slashed her wrists, recovered, but was put into a single cell, apparently without observation, and managed to hang herself? Has there been an inquiry into that case?
§ Mr. AlisonI would rather not comment at the Dispatch Box on that particular case, but I will look into it and write to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Following are the details:
| Year | Number of suicides |
| 1968 | 1 |
| 1969 | 1 |
| 1970 | 2 |
| 1971 | 4 |
| 1972 | 3 |
§ The means adopted in six cases was strangulation using clothing or bedding, in three cases suffocation with plastic bags and in two cases hanging.