§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Mrs. Mavis Badham, a former senior physicist at Bristol Royal Infirmary, was dismissed after 18 years' service.
§ Mr. AlisonA number of incidents led up to the suspension and eventual dismissal of Mrs. Badham but the reasons for the termination of her employment relate mainly to her refusal to accept the authority and instructions of her head of department despite frequent warnings. This resulted in the lowering of the morale and efficiency of that department.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on the basis of what information the Parliamentary Under-Secretary stated that the staff medical officer of the Bristol Royal Infirmary had persuaded Mr. Badham that his wife should have treatment in Holloway sanatorium; and whether the consultant psychiatrist at Holloway sanatorium had agreed that such treatment was necessary.
§ Mr. AlisonThe information referred to was provided by the Board of Governors of the United Bristol Hospitals. There is no dispute, however, that Mr. Badham was persuaded of no more than that a follow-up appointment should be arranged for his wife. The last part of the Question does not therefore arise.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what investigations were made into complaints by Mrs. Badham about the treatment of certain patients in Bristol Royal Infirmary.
§ Mr. AlisonMrs. Badham made certain allegations about the treatment of patients at Cheltenham. These allegations were investigated by a principal physicist on the staff of the United Bristol Hospitals and were discussed at length during the hearing in front of the disciplinary committee on 1st July, 1970. The committee had as an independent adviser Professor F. J. Roberts, head of the Department220W of Medical Physics at the Middlesex Hospital.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now order an investigation into the original complaint by, and into the treatment of, Mrs. Badham at Bristol Royal Infirmary.
§ Mr. AlisonMrs. Badham's dismissal by the Board of Governors of the United Bristol Hospitals has already been considered in detail by my Department. The board's decision was taken as a result of the findings of a disciplinary committee and was reviewed again at length by an appeal sub-committee. Mrs. Badham was present at both hearings and was given a full opportunity to present her case. In these circumstances we can see no justification for ordering a further investigation.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange for compensation to be paid to Mrs. Badham for the distress she has suffered and the effect on her career of her dismissal from Bristol Royal Infirmary.
§ Mr. AlisonNo. While we regret any distress which Mrs. Badham may have suffered, we are satisfied that the dismissal itself took place in accordance with the proper procedures for such matters.