HC Deb 30 October 1980 vol 991 cc344-5W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied that he has always been properly informed about conditions and circumstances at Rampton hospital;

(2) if he is satisfied with the managerial and clinical aspects of psychiatry at Rampton hospital; and if not, what change he is proposing.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

It was because, on the information I had, I was not satisfied with some aspects of Rampton hospital that, following the Yorkshire TV programme on the hospital, I appointed a team chaired by Sir John Boynton to carry out a wide-ranging review of the hospital. I now have the report of the review team and intend to publish it shortly. I shall make a further statement then.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what action was taken at Rampton hospital following the report of the joint committee on higher psychiatric training; and, if there was none, why;

(2) if he will now publish the report on Rampton hospital made by the joint committee on higher psychiatric training; and if not, why not.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Reports of this nature are made on the understanding that they are to be treated as confidential to the limited number of people directly concerned. The main purpose of such visits is to gain acceptance of improvements of conditions for medical training purposes and I understand that the joint committee considers that publication of its reports might prejudice an accepted system of approval of training facilities.

The report was forwarded to my Department at the end of April 1979. It suggested that the managerial and clinical aspects of psychiatry at the hospital needed urgent review; I therefore arranged for a copy of the report to be made available to the Rampton hospital management review team.