§ 13. David Taylor (North-West Leicestershire) (Lab/ Co-op)What guidelines are given to primary care trusts 140 about acceptable levels of general practitioner patient urgent referrals to acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [155730]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr. John Hutton)It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to put in place their own arrangements for reviewing levels of referrals, taking into account the requirements of national and local policies.
§ David TaylorLast month, a widely respected, well-loved general practitioner, in a practice covering my home village, committed suicide during the lengthy investigations by the local primary care trust into his rate of urgent referrals of patients to acute hospitals. Does the Minister agree that public organisations that exercise an overview of primary care should ensure that that role is undertaken with sensitivity, and that holistic, clinical judgment is never overridden by spreadsheet-driven targets?
§ Mr. HuttonYes, I agree with both the points that my hon. Friend made. The death of Dr. Farley was a terrible tragedy for his family, as well as an enormous loss to the community that he served for more than 25 years—I know that my hon. Friend knew Dr. Farley. In the light of Dr. Farley's death, I think that the PCT has taken the right course of action. An independent inquiry team is being assembled as we speak, to be chaired led by Dr. Paul Cosford. The inquiry will look into all the relevant events leading up to the death of Dr. Farley. I hope that it will be able to conclude its work by the end of May and publish its findings as soon as possible thereafter. In the light of that ongoing work, it is probably best that I say no more about it at the moment.