§ Miss Boothroydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the security arrangements and the supervision of patients at St. Margaret's Hospital, Great Barr, following the escape of a patient through a window without the knowledge of the staff; and whether he will make a statement.
300W
§ Sir K. JosephSt. Margaret's is an open hospital which has no special physical security facilities. I understand that the patient concerned was not thought, prior to these incidents coming to light, to be dangerous or in need of any special supervision, and three years ago the Home Office agreed to the patient being allowed to go out of the hospital unescorted during the day at the discretion of the consultant. He has now been admitted to Rampton Special Hospital.