42443
C*
73
in the House of Commons. That Bill did not become an Act, but the change was made by the Criminal Justice Act, 1948. By that Act criminal lunatic asylumawore stof in ghe Minister of Health and out under the management of the Board of Control, the transfer taking effect on 1st April, 1949; their title was changed to that of Broadmoor Institutions "; and the term
criminal lunatic" was changed to "Broadmoor patient.' It still r the function of the Secretary of State to make orders for the rem Broadmoor patients to and from Broadmoor.
ins
of
5. There are two other State Institutions managed by the Board of Control, viz., Rampton Hospital and Moss Side Hospital. These institutions are for the reception of mental defectives of dangerous or violent propensities who are unsuitable for care and treatment in an ordinary mental deficiency institution. In a similar way the dangerous or violent propensities of a large number of Broadmoor patients distinguish Broadmoor from ordinary mental hospitals administered under the National Health Service Act, 1946, by Regional Hospital Boards. Further, the nursing staff at these three institutions have a Civil Service status and are members of the Prison Officers' Associa- tion although they are regarded as part of the National Health Service. We mention the connection between Broadmoor and the other two State Institu- tions again in paragraph 10.
6.
Broadmoor Patients and Staff
1938 average number
1st June, 1952
number of
patients
74
Male Female
Total
of patients
595
181
776
701
190
891
The increase in the number of patients has taken place gradually during the intervening years and has been mainly in the age groups under 35 years.
7. The medical staff in 1938 consisted of the Medical Superintendent, the Deputy Medical Superintendent, and two other medical officers. There is now provision for a fifth medical officer, but the post is at present vacant.
8. In 1938 the authorised number of attendants (including trade instructors) was 148 male, 49 female, total 197. The present authorised nursing staff (including trade instructors) is 279 but on 1st June, 1952, the actual staff was 193 male, 67 female, total 260, being 19 under strength. We should, however, point out that some of the increase in staff has been occasioned by changes in the system of working and regrading of posts, e.g., we have been told that when a three-shift system of working was instituted in 1941, an increase of 41 attendants was authorised. The pensionable age for nurses is 55 years, but owing to difficulty of recruit- ment there are now 14 male nursing staff over the age of 60 years (5 of whom are over the age of 65 years), including some temporary assistants engaged during the war. Some of these would have been released long ago if young recruits had been available. The average age of the male nursing staff has increased from 40 years in 1938 to 45 years in 1952 and that of the female nursing staff from 31 years in 1938 to 40 years in 1952.
Pay and Conditions of Service of Staff
9. In 1938 the starting wage of a male recruit was substantially above the wage which could then be earned in many other occupations in the