§ Mr. Roger KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to extend the benefits of clinical audit in the national health service beyond the medical and nursing professions.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe welcome efforts by all health care professions to look systematically at the quality and effectiveness of their work. The Department is working with the professional bodies of the clinical psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy professions on the development of clinical audit in these fields. Last month, we established an initial research study which will start by examining the feasibility of multidisciplinary audit across these areas. This will report early next year, and will be followed up by further development work. I have no doubt that clinical audit will enable these vital professions to improve the service they give to patients still further, just as it will in medicine and nursing.