---

Health and Social Care Bill

Perhaps it would help the noble Baroness if I give the example of what happened to my mother before she died in 1993. She had always been used to giving herself her own medicines. She was a highly intelligent lady who was able to finish the Times crossword the day before she died, so there was no problem with her mental functions. However, the male charge nurse caring for my mother decided that she was an alcoholic because she liked a glass of sherry before lunch, a glass of wine with dinner and a glass of brandy before going to bed. He concluded that she was incapable of administering her own drugs. Her dignity was taken away from her when she was told that she was not capable of taking her own medicines, and she simply fell apart. She rang me in a panic, so I went over and reminded the young man of who paid his salary. He gave my mother’s medicines back to her. However, my mother suffered at his hands every time he was on duty until she died, and indeed after she died because he insisted, although it was clear that she had died from natural causes, that there should be a post mortem in case she had taken an overdose. When someone from our walk of life can suffer in such a way, let us consider the position of those who have no advocate, no one to stand up for them. They need an exceptionally strong support system. This is not like purchasing something in Currys and then going back to complain about it. This concerns physical comfort, well-being and peace of mind.