§ 2.30 p.m.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of the article in the Sunday Times of June 4 dealing with the treatment of elderly patients in some mental hospitals, steps are being taken to improve the situation where necessary.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD BESWICK)My Lords, the Government are aware of the allegations reported in the Sunday Times of ill-treatment of the elderly in hospital. None is supported by particulars of a kind that would make it possible to pursue inquiries; individuals are not identified and there is no indication where the alleged incidents took place. Such allegations cast unfair suspicion on large numbers of hospital staff who are doing difficult work with skill and devotion, and they must cause distress to patients' relatives. The professional and other bodies concerned and the Ministry of Health set high standards of care and are always seeking to improve them. If undesirable practices are occurring the Government wish to have evidence in a form that will enable investigations to be made, so that such practices may be stopped.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for his reply and to put one supplementary question to him: namely, supposing it were possible to amalgamate the roll and the register of the general nurse with the mental case nurse, does he not think that these two bodies could rotate a little and in that way take away some of the strain from the mental nurses in the work that they have to do?
§ LORD BESWICKYes, my Lords. The proposal that the noble Lord puts forward is, as is the case with every contribution that he makes in these matters, a constructive one, and I will certainly see that it is considered. However, as he possibly knows, one of the difficulties is that registered nurses in psychiatric and non-psychiatric hospitals possess different qualifications which are not interchangeable. As a matter of fact, a proposal has been made in an opposite sense to that made by the noble Lord; namely, that registers should be split for psychiatric and non-psychiatric enrolled nurses. Nevertheless, I will undertake to see that what he has suggested is considered.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, have the Government invited or asked the Sunday Times to provide information which will enable the Government to investigate these allegations, if there is any evidence at all anywhere in support of them? If that has not been done, may I ask that the Government should ask the Sunday Times to furnish particulars to support the allegations that they have made?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, there has in fact been a long history of correspondence between the Minister and a Mrs. Barbara Robb, who is the authoress of a book which is about to be published, and on which I understand the article is based. She has given certain information which has been examined, and it was found that the allegations then made were unfounded. I will certainly see whether anything more can be done to get her either to substantiate or to withdraw what she has said.
§ LORD ILFORDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the Government have invited the newspaper to supply the information upon which this article was based?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I will certainly see that what the noble Lord suggests is considered.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, cannot the Government give a definite instruction that when elderly people are admitted to these hospitals they shall not be deprived of their dentures and spectacles?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, guidance to hospital authorities on the care of mental patients has been issued, and that practice has been ruled out except on medical advice. I have absolutely no reason to think that that particular charge is justified at all.
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether the Ministry has inquired of hospitals throughout the country where there are a great many elderly people, whether they have received a great many complaints, although I know these elderly people and their friends are often frightened to complain?
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, I do not think it is for the Ministry to inquire into individual cases. But last year a memorandum was issued by my right honourable friend the Minister of Health, containing comprehensive guidance in relation to the procedure for inquiries into complaints made on behalf of or by patients.