§ Mr. Simeonsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what mental condition short of the killing of another person creates an emergency demanding admission to a mental hospital;
(2) why Bromham Hospital did not accept Nigel Ubanowicz voluntarily as an emergency patient on 19th December, 1970, after they had been informed by telephone that in the absence of such a step the mother might leave home;
(3) what made the delivery of Nigel Ubanowicz to Bromham Hospital on 19th December, 1970, create an emergency demanding admission which was not known to have existed before;
(4) how Bromham Hospital were able to admit Nigel Ubanowicz on 19th December if there were no bed unoccupied.
§ Mr. AlisonAdmission of individual persons, whether on an emergency basis or otherwise, is a matter for the professional discretion of the consultant in the light of all relevant circumstances.
Following the telephone conversation between my hon. Friend and another member of the hospital staff, the Medical Superintendent at Bromham Hospital arranged for the mental welfare officer and family doctor to be consulted about the need for emergency admission and this was being done when Nigel Ubanowicz arrived. The bed found for him was not one the consultant regarded as suitable for a boy of his age but was the best arrangement the hospital could make in the circumstances.