§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement concerning staffing levels at Ashworth hospital, Mayhill, on 19 November;
404W(2) if he will institute a public inquiry into the death of Derek Anthony Williams at Ashworth hospital, Mayhill, on 19 November; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will make a statement on the death of Derek Anthony Williams at Ashworth hospital, Mayhill, on 19 November.
§ Mr. DorrellI am writing to the hon. and learned Member about this tragic incident and would like to record here how I very much regret the sad death of Mr. Williams and offer my sympathy to his parents.
The Special Hospitals Service Authority, which is responsible for the management of Ashworth hospital, is urgently setting up an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Williams' death.
The management of Ashworth hospital have already launched their own internal inquiry. An early finding is that on the morning of 19 November, with the exception of one ward designated to the care of mentally handicapped female patients, all wards in Ashworth hospital, including that in which Mr. Williams died, were fully manned. During the afternoon and night shifts all wards were fully manned.