§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set out those proposals of the Davies Committee report on hospital complaints procedure which have been acted on by the Government and those which have been rejected; and whether he proposes to make any further changes in the system of hospital complaints procedure.
§ Mr. MoyleThe main recommendation of the Davies Committee was that
926Wmission Report on lower incomes, giving the information for a four-child family.
§ Mr. OrmeThe information requested is giving in the table below:
there should be a uniform code of practice for handling complaints about hospital services: and the Committee made detailed recommendations about matters to be covered in such a code of practice. Following consultations during 1976 on a draft code of practice, my Department produced a further draft document dealing with the initial handling of complaints by health authorities on which comments have recently been sought from a wide range of interested bodies. In the light of these consultations, the Department will produce guidance for health authorities.
927WThe Davies Committee also recommended the establishment of investigating panels to investigate certain complaints at present outside the jurisdiction of the Health Service Commissioner. At the request of Ministers, the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration undertook a review of the Commissioner's jurisdiction in the light of this recommendation. The Select Committee reported the outcome of its review in its First Report for 1977–78, which is being actively considered by my Department.