§ 8. Mr. Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester) (Lab)If he will make a statement on the findings of Sir John Blofeld's report into racism in the NHS. [177292]
§ The Secretary of State for Health (Dr. John Reid)Our formal response to the Blofeld report into the death of David Bennett will be published in July this year as an integral part of our action plan to deliver race equality in mental health services. While the detail of our response must therefore wait, I want to make it clear that racism and discrimination will not be tolerated in the national health service. Our commitment to change will be through action, not complacent words. These are real issues for people from black and ethnic minority communities, and they will be addressed.
§ Mr. DhandaI thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. I am sure that he will welcome the remarks made by Sir John Blofeld during his inquiry into the death of David Bennett. One of his findings was that black men are six times more likely to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 than white men. Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating Sir Nigel Crisp, chief executive of the NHS, on his decision to appoint a director in the NHS with responsibility for ensuring equality for staff and patients alike? Does he share my concern about comments by the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) that such an appointment would be a waste of money?
§ Dr. ReidYes, I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Sir Nigel Crisp, who is not only permanent secretary to my Department but chief executive of the national health service, on the robust leadership that he has 139 shown, particularly on this question. This week of all weeks, when we are remembering D-day and the liberation of the European continent from the worst and most poisonous racist regime, we should remember the contribution made to the NHS by people from black, ethnic and coloured backgrounds. I must correct myself, because earlier I said that there were 14,000 extra doctors since we came to power. I apologise for my mistake, as the figure is 19,000, and many of those doctors are from black and ethnic backgrounds. It is very disappointing indeed that the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) should attack the appointment of a national director on equality and human rights. On the issue of tackling racism, the Conservative party is at best confused and at worst open to the accusation of complacency.
§ Anne Picking (East Lothian) (Lab)I welcome my right hon. Friend's comments about tackling racism in the health service. We have not tackled it well enough and it is still prevalent. My particular concern is how staff are treated by patients. By virtue of being ill, patients are almost excused for being racist. That is not acceptable and should not be tolerated.
§ Dr. ReidI agree with every word that my hon. Friend said. I know that over many years, before she came into Parliament and afterwards, she has been involved in fighting to make sure that we have public services free of racism, institutional or otherwise. Those on the Opposition Front Bench may have been perturbed by my remarks, but I made them in all sincerity. When we appointed a national director for equality and human rights, the words that were used by the Opposition Front-Bench spokesman were that that appointment was "a misuse of resources". It is no good using fine words about combating racism and being committed to equality, and willing the ends but not being prepared to put in the means. If the Opposition will the ends publicly and say that they are committed to them, but then attack the means of tackling the problem, they will be criticised.
§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow (Lab)Does the Secretary of State recognise—I do not doubt that he does—that the Blofeld committee report has wide implications? Will there be a programme of action, and along what lines will action be taken?
§ Dr. ReidYes, indeed. I made it plain that this would not be a matter of words for us There is a robust programme of action across the national health service led by the chief executive of the NHS and the permanent secretary at the Department of Health under my political leadership. It will include a new national director for equality and human rights. A practical programme of action has been outlined already and will be carried through.
In answer to my hon. Friend's first question, I have met many people who find themselves in extremely difficult circumstances as a result of the loss of a loved one. In the case of the Bennett inquiry, I met the family and the solicitor representing the family, and I found their sincerity, their profundity on the issue and their contribution to what we are trying to achieve to be first rate. I hope we will continue to work with the family, as well as with others.