Annual report of the Board of Control to the Lord Chancellor : 1952.

Date:
1952
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report of the Board of Control to the Lord Chancellor : 1952. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Broadmoor Institution On the 31st August, 1952, Dr. J. S. Hopwood, C.B.E., retired after 27 years’ service at Broadmoor, during 14 of which he had been Medical Superintendent. Dr. Hopwood introduced many changes designed to make the institution, so far as its character allows, a hospital as well as a place of detention. The Board wish to take this opportunity of acknowledging his valuable work. He was succeeded by Dr. S. G. James, who has for a number of years been the Medical Superintendent of Moss Side Hospital for mental defectives of violent or dangerous propensities. On 29th April, 1952, a patient escaped from the men’s side at Broadmoor and in the course of a few hours’ liberty caused the death of a young child. As a result of this tragic event a Committee of Enquiry under the chairman¬ ship of Mr. J. Scott Henderson, Q.C., was appointed by the Minister of Health to enquire into the adequacy of the security arrangements at Broad¬ moor and to make recommendations. The Committee found that the change of attitude towards the needs of the mentally afflicted instituted by Dr. Hopwood had not resulted in any relaxation of the security rules, and that no change had been made in this respect since the responsibility for the institution passed to the Board of Control in 1949. In their report,* however, they made certain recommendations for the improvement of the security arrangements in the future, and for the recruitment of suitable staff. Effect has been given to these recommendations. The institution was regularly visited during the year. Although the shortage of nursing staff has presented problems, and it has been necessary to defer some structural improvements, we are satisfied that it continues to be well administered. Royal Naval Hospital, Great Yarmouth, and P. Wing, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley The usual annual visit, at the request of the Admiralty and of the Secretary of State for War, respectively, was paid to each of these hospitals. Apart from the fact that improvements and repairs have had to be post¬ poned at the Royal Victoria Hospital owing to financial restrictions, both were in good condition and the patients were in receipt of proper care and treatment. Inquiry by Commissioners The death of a voluntary patient in The Old Manor, Salisbury, was the subject of an inquiry held at the licensed house by two Senior Commissioners on the 3rd and 4th April, 1952. The patient, who entered The Old Manor on the 1st January, 1952, died on the 8th January, 1952, the finding of the jury at the inquest being that the cause of death was “ bronchial pneumonia following severe fractures of ribs and sternum inflicted recently ”. There was not sufficient evidence to show how they were caused. The Commissioners, after examining a considerable number of witnesses, all of whom were sworn, and making other investigations, were unable to establish the exact manner in which the patient came by his injuries. They were, however, satisfied that in general the care of patients at The Old Manor was kindly and the nursing staff sufficient. * Cmd. 8594, published June, 1952. A 2 19825