Patients with Learning Disabilities

HC Deb 29 January 1993 vol 217 cc884-5W

Mr. Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will establish an inquiry into the standards of management of, and the safety of in-patients at hospitals for people with learning disabilities;

(2) if she will establish an independent inquiry into the management of Stallington hospital, with particular reference to the case of Freda Latham and other examples of maltreatment of in-patients which have recently come to light.

Mr. Yeo

No. We have seen no evidence that there is a national problem regarding the standards of management of, or the safety of patients in hospitals for people with learning disabilities.

Any further inquiry into the Stallington hospital is a matter for West Midlands regional health authority in conjunction with North Staffordshire district health authority. A review team has been set up by North Staffordshire health authority to oversee the implementation of the findings of their inquiry into the death of Freda Latham.