HL Deb 17 January 2002 vol 630 cc1182-3

3.23 p.m.

Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they respond to the increased deaths and £500 million costs highlighted in the Audit Commission's report A Spoonful of Sugar.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

My Lords, we take this matter very seriously. The safe and effective use of medicines is an important issue for NHS trusts. Our controls assurance standards and the medicines management performance framework highlight the central role of hospital pharmacists in delivering this vital element of patient care.

Baroness Noakes

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. However, will he say what information the Government collect on the incidence of medication error at the level of individual trusts? Will he say, in particular, whether the Government award star ratings, autonomy and possibly even the new-fangled foundation status to trusts without knowing whether those trusts have an acceptably low incidence of medication error?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, we are very keen to ensure that information per trust is collected routinely, that it is robust and that it is, indeed, taken into account in future assessments of the performance of individual NHS trusts. In addition, the National Patient Safety Agency, which commenced work some six or so months ago, has set up a national authority to which NHS trusts can report on safety issues and near-misses. That will enable us to quantify the problem far better, which in itself will lead to action to reduce its incidence.

Lord Clement-Jones

My Lords, the report highlights the importance of prescribing skills and knowledge. Therefore, what on earth induced the department to terminate the funding for the Prescribers' Journal, leading to its closure, when it was such a valuable tool for prescribers?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, my experience of the pharmaceutical and committee pharmaceutical network is that there is no shortage of information, advice and journals. The noble Lord will know that the training course for pharmacists was extended by one year to four years. We are also concerned that doctors should receive the appropriate training in this area, both in their undergraduate training and induction training in hospitals.

Earl Howe

My Lords, has the Minister read the section of the report that deals with automated dispensing? If he has, will the Government consider the merits of commissioning jointly with the Welsh National Assembly a national specification for robotic dispensing?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, as ever, we stand ready to work in partnership with the Welsh Assembly. We are considering the recommendations of the Audit Commission on automated dispensary systems and shall bring forward our decision in due course. I certainly understand the potential of such dispensing. It is in its infancy in this country but we shall give it serious consideration.