Former Minister Of Health Visits Hospital

Brief scenes as David Ennals visits a hospital, including a psychiatric ward for older residents.

David Ennals is met by managers as he arrives to visit a hospital, walking past corrugated metal exteriors. Interior of a room where nurses and other medical staff are dancing with elderly residents and patients. This could be a psychiatric ward, perhaps for older people with dementia. A large drum rests on a chair, and a woman plays a tambourine. David Ennals talks with two women. He then talks with men as they walk outside to another doorway.

Keywords

Medical; Mental Health; Hospitals; Dementia; Care of elderly people

Background Information

David Hedley Ennals, Baron Ennals, PC (19 August 1922 – 17 June 1995) was a British Labour Party politician and campaigner for human rights. Standing for the Labour Party, David Ennals was elected as the Member of Parliament for Dover in 1964. Following the 1966 election, Harold Wilson appointed David Ennals as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Army. He moved to become Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department in 1967 under James Callaghan before being appointed as a Minister of State for Social Services in 1968. He lost his government post and his seat following Labour's defeat in the 1970 general election. David Ennals returned to parliament representing Norwich North following the February 1974 general election and was appointed Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. In 1976 he became Secretary of State for Social Services and held that post until Labour lost power in 1979. During his tenure he appointed Sir Douglas Black to produce the Black Report (published in 1980) into health inequality. After losing his seat in the general election of 1983, he was created a life peer, as Baron Ennals, of Norwich in the County of Norfolk. Following his exit from parliament, David Ennals became Campaign Director for the National Association for Mental Health (MIND), later becoming their Chairman and President.