Vol. 415 No. 4
167 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if she will make a statement on the recent report carried out by a person (details supplied) following an inspection which he carried out at a hospital (details supplied) where he was very critical of the conditions that patients have to endure at the hospital; and if she will outline the steps her Department are taking to ensure that patients in this hospital can preserve their personal dignity.
As the Deputy will be aware the report which he refers to is in respect of the 1990 inspection of the hospital. I am sure the Deputy is also aware of the inspector's further report indicating that he was delighted with the overall improvements that occurred at the hospital in the 12 months following the 1990 inspection.
I am assured by the health board that they are continuing to upgrade facilities at the hospital to ensure that patients are given the best possible treatment within available resources.
Public psychiatric hospitals are inspected on an annual basis by the inspector and assistant inspector of mental hospitals. The inspector's reports contain recommendations for improvements in the services provided by the hospitals and these recommendations are taken on board by the health boards concerned.
