§ 27. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the concern at the disparity in catering expenditure between mental hospitals and general hospitals which is not accounted for by a great variety of meals or greater costs of transporting meals to wards and individual beds in general hospitals than the usual practice in mental hospitals of feeding most patients in large dining halls; if he will explain the differences; and what action is to be taken to improve the situation for mental hospital patients.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am aware of the differences between acute and psychiatric hospitals. To help in assessing the appropriate expenditure for psychiatric hospitals, a study of the quantity and quality of food provided in a number of such hospitals is in progress.