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2 Nov 2005 : Column 1148W—continued
NHS Redress Systems
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to reform the NHS systems of redress for individuals who are dissatisfied with the care they have received from the NHS. [20072]
Jane Kennedy: The NHS Redress Bill, which contains provisions for establishing an NHS Redress Scheme, was introduced in the House of Lords on 12 October 2005.
The NHS Redress Scheme is a completely new approach to the handling of clinical negligence cases. Its aims are three-fold:
to provide a real alternative to litigation for the cases that fall within the scheme, including addressing the delays and legal costs that are part and parcel of the current system,
placing the emphasis on putting things right for patients as a matter of course and providing the explanation, apologies and reassurance that patients tell us they want,
contributing to a culture of learning in the national health service, providing impetus for wider service improvement.
For the first time, the patient is at the heart of the process of responding when things go wrong. An NHS Redress Scheme will ensure a simpler and more effective approach to making things right for patients and ensuring that where there has been clinical negligence, the approach supports proper resolution. To be eligible under the scheme, the incident must arise out of a negligent clinical act or omission in connection with the diagnosis of illness, the care or the treatment of a patient, by a healthcare professional. The liability must arise out of hospital services provided as part of the NHS in England or Wales.
However, we expect all NHS patients to benefit from the more open, transparent approach when things go wrong and the proactive response to learning from mistakes.
The detail of how the scheme will work in practice, including the financial limits, time scales, etc, will be included in secondary legislation, which will be published in draft form for consultation following Royal Assent of the NHS Redress Bill.
NHS Trusts
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she plans to take with regards to the NHS trusts which are in deficit and which have not come forward with proposals to eliminate such deficits before the end of the financial year. [20395]
Mr. Byrne: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs) to deliver overall financial balance for their local health communities, and to ensure that each and every body achieves financial balance.
SHAs can agree a recovery plan, which phases the recovery of deficits over a number of years. This would require other national health service organisations, within the health economy, to underspend over the same
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period. Any such arrangements would have to be subject to the agreement of local providers, commissioners and the managing SHA.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2735W, on NHS trusts (final accounts), when the figures for 2004–05 will be published; [19685]
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(2) pursuant to her Answer of 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2735W, on final accounts, what the equivalent figures are for 2004–05. [20655]
Jane Kennedy: The financial position for all national health service organisations, based on the 2004–05 audited accounts information, was made available on the Department's website on 19 September 2005.
The cumulative breakeven position for NHS trusts in London for 2004–05 is shown in the table.
Notes:
1. These figures have been taken from the 2004–05 summarisation schedules. They should be treated as provisional until they are signed off by the National Audit Office/Chief Executive.
2. In relation to some NHS organisations, the figures for 2003–04 have been restated for prior year adjustments. The organisations affected are:
Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust (previously showing £4.2 million surplus, now restated to £18 million surplus).
Ealing Hospital NHS Trust (previously showing £559,000 deficit, now restated to £376,000 deficit).
3. The following organisations achieved foundation trust status and as a result are not included on the 2004–05 table. NHS foundation trusts do not report their financial position directly to the Department. Monitor has been given responsibility for the regulation of NHS foundation trusts:
Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
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NHS Walk-in Centres
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to commission further research on the cost effectiveness of NHS walk-in-centres. [20846]
Mr. Byrne: Following the independent evaluation of the initial national health service walk-in centres, which was published in 2002, a further independent evaluation of more recent NHS walk-in centre models is now under way by Sheffield and Bristol universities and is expected to be published in 2006.
NICE
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cost of running the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has been in each of the last five years; [19898]
(2) how many people have been employed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in each of the last five years. [19901]
Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) on 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1374W, and on 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1690W. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent body. Figures on the numbers of staff employed by NICE and its accounts can be found in their annual reports on its website at: www.nice.org.uk.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence regarding the prescription of Herceptin for the treatment of early stage breast cancer. [19913]
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Jane Kennedy: Herceptin for early stage breast cancer was referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on 21 July 2005. I have received proposals from NICE for a new more rapid assessment process for single drugs and health technologies. I most recently discussed this issue briefly with the chairman and chief executive of NICE at the Institute's annual accountability review on 13 October.
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