"Working for Patients" (Hansard, 9 October 1989)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper)
My Lords, we are currently considering the report and welcome the support it lends to the general aims of our reforms. We plan to respond shortly to the detailed recommendations made by the committee.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, the whole House was saddened when we learnt of the death of Lord Trafford, who was well respected by all elements throughout the National Health Service and by the profession. I also wish the noble Baroness well in her new appointment. Notwithstanding that the Select Committee on Social Services has a Conservative majority, is she aware that it has nevertheless made serious criticisms of what it believes is the wrong method by which the Government are proceeding, with particular reference to the putting in jeopardy of patient care? Will a further examination be made in order to avoid what the Select Committee thinks is a grave possibility?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his kind personal remarks and for his remarks about my noble friend Lord Trafford. Nobody could regret more deeply than I that it is not he who is standing at this Dispatch Box today. I am sure that we are all greatly saddened both by the loss in personal terms and in terms of the very valuable contribution that he always made to the business of your Lordships' House.
In response to the noble Lord's supplementary question, of course we take the report of the Select 4 Committee seriously, but it would not be right for me to comment in advance of the Government's full response. As we said earlier, we welcome the committee's endorsement of many of our key proposals, but let me reassure the noble Lord that the object of the reforms proposed for the National Health Service is to improve patient care.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, perhaps I may associate the Opposition with the tribute which my noble friend paid to Lord Trafford. We were all saddened and shocked to learn of his death and his loss to the Government and to this House is considerable. The noble Lord rendered great service as a consultant, as a Member in another place and during the last few years in this House. We were very impressed by his last appearance at the Dispatch Box and looked forward very much to the important contributions which we knew he could make. We send our deep sympathy to Lady Trafford and the family.

§ Lord Rea
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the Select Committee mentioned in the Question made the recommendation that any major changes proposed in the National Health Service should be preceded by scientifically evaluated pilot studies? Is she also aware that the Select Committee of your Lordships' House which reported 18 months ago on medical research made widespread recommendations on how research and development in the National Health Service should be carried out and increased from its present lamentably low level? Can she tell us when the Government will reply to that report?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, we are grateful to the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition for his kind remarks.
In relation to the supplementary question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Rea, of course we are aware of the significance of the recommendations of the Select Committee, particularly in relation to the proposal for pilot schemes, but let me reassure him that the changing pattern will be evolutionary. If patients are to receive the maximum benefits our plans must be implemented as quickly as possible. However, we are aiming for steady incremental progress informed by the lessons of experience. We are already actively promoting a good deal of development work in the health service designed to identify the best way of putting our proposals into practice. Although I cannot give the noble Lord a firm date for a response to the House of Lords Select Committee, in his speech of 10th July to senior doctors my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health made it absolutely clear that the Government are firmly committed to and fully recognise the importance of medical education and research.

§ Baroness Turner of Camden
My Lords, will the noble Baroness tell the House what arrangements are being made for continuing consultation with the organisations representative of staff in the National Health Service? By that I do not just mean with the BMA, important though that organisation is, but 5 the organisations representing other workers in the National Health Service such as the professions supplementary to medicine and ancillary staff of all kinds, as well as nurses.

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, we have held and continue to hold wide-ranging discussions with a large cross-section of NHS staff, professional bodies and other interested parties about implementing our proposals. We remain firmly committed to a participative approach to implementation. I think that the noble Baroness may be reassured that consultation and discussion will continue with the bodies to which she referred.

§ Baroness Faithfull
My Lords, for the information of your Lordships' House, may I ask my noble friend the Minister whether the recommendations in the Griffiths Report, on which I think there is to be a White Paper, are to be incorporated in the national health legislation, or will there be an Act on its own dealing with the report which will concern patients in the community?

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the White Paper Working for Patients concentrated on the management of the National Health Service. Separate consideration was given to community care in the light of the Griffiths Report. The Government announced their response to the report and their proposals in a Statement to the House on 12th July. A White Paper fleshing out the details of that Statement will be published shortly. It is expected that the Bill implementing the White Paper Working for Patients will also cover the Government's proposals for community care in the National Health Service.

Lord Wallace of Coslany
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that while the Government are considering their reply to the report most regional authorities are facing an acute financial crisis? Beds are being closed by the hundred in many parts of the country.

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, the Government's proposals are aimed at altering any difficulties that we experience over the National Health Service. I emphasise that health service chairmen and managers, upon whom the reforms depend, are strong supporters of the Government's proposals.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that in addition to the Royal Colleges, the Confederation of Health Service Employees, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and now even the health service management association are expressing grave reservations about parts of the Government's policy on the future of the NHS? Does she not agree that it would be in the interests of the Government, of the great professions and certainly of the NHS that they should think again? If they are not prepared to consult their own Select Committee, they should at least respect those who have greater experience—the people whom I have mentioned: the BMA, the Royal Colleges and the management service of the National 6 Health Service itself. This can only be for the benefit of the NHS and the people who require to use it at different times.

§ Baroness Hooper
My Lords, I believe that the Government's aim is clear in these proposals. It is to bring health care everywhere up to the standard of the best.