Ely Hospital, Cardiff

HC Deb 02 February 1971 vol 810 cc311-2W

82. Mr. George Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the letter he sent to Ely Hospital, Cardiff, consequent upon his reference to that hospital in a public speech.

Sir K. Joseph

Yes. I wil circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the information:

I wrote to the Chairman of the Friends of Ely Hospital and to the Branch Secretary of the Confederation of Health Service Employees as follows:

"You wrote to me on 8th November (5th November) about my reference to Ely Hospital when I spoke to the Association of Hospital Matrons.

"I am sure that all concerned with hospitals for the mentally handicapped will agree with what I said about the staff-patient relationship and the need for effective protection for the patient. These principles are fundamental. I do, however, appreciate that the management and staff at Ely are trying to build up morale after a period of adverse publicity and I accept that it would have been better not to have mentioned the hospital in my speech".