88.
asked the Minister of Health why the late Lily Irene Palmer, a mental defective, had been at large for three years prior to being murdered; how many mental defectives are known to be at large; and how many of these have been awaiting admission to institutions for one year or longer.
This girl had been recommended for institutional care when a suitable vacancy could be found. She was a borderline case for which admission to an institution war, not regarded as urgently necessary, and she had not been certified under the Mental Deficiency Acts. According to returns by local health authorities, the number of mental defectives awaiting admission on 1st January last was 5,316. The returns do not indicate how many had been waiting for one year or longer.
92.
asked the Minister of Health what steps are necessary, and how many signatures are required on a medical certificate, before the inmate of a mental institution may be discharged.
There is a large variety of ways in which these patients may be discharged. With the hon. and gallant Member's consent, I will send him detailed memoranda giving the information. If he has a case in mind and will send me particulars, I will have it looked into.