§ Mr. Dudley Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the level of supervision of voluntary patients and of those who are allowed a certain amount of freedom in mental hospitals, in view of two recent cases in Gloucester and Studley where patients walked out without notifying the supervisory staff and were subsequently found dead from exposure.
§ Mr. MoyleAs indicated in my reply to the hon. Gentleman's other Questions today the particular events at Abbey-fields Hospital are being looked into. As regards mental hospitals generally the degree of supervision possible is of course largely dependent on the staff numbers available, their training and how they are managed. I am satisfied that in general and in normal circumstances this is adequate.