§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement regarding the recent conviction of the senior social worker at the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital in Sutton, Surrey, for fraudulent use of patients' money; if he will indicate the procedures for vetting senior employees at hospitals; and how this social worker was employed with previous convictions for similar offences; and whether the defrauded patients' relatives will be reimbursed.
§ Mr. MoyleThe officer in question was employed as a basic grade social worker by the Royal Marsden Hospital on 11th March 1974. Since 1st April 1974 social workers in hospitals have been employed by local authorities and this officer was transferred to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on that date.
It is normal practice for hospital authorities to consult referees before appointing to a senior post. In this case, due to an administrative oversight, the Royal Marsden Hospital did not take up references at the time of the appointment, but when it subsequently did so the references were satisfactory.
The question of reimbursement is for consideration in the first instance by the employing authority at the time of the offences.
113WI should like to express to those who have suffered loss and distress my deep regret for these unfortunate occurences, which should not be seen as any reflection on the devotion and integrity of the social work services as a whole.