§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will take steps to ensure that family health service authorities give reasons to the patient for decisions reached when cases are disposed of by service committees without an oral hearing; and if she will make a statement;
(2) if she will ensure that when an appeal from a family health service authority service committee is heard by her, the patient is given reasons for the decision reached by her; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations 1992 govern the investigation of complaints against family practitioners. These require service committees, whether or not an oral hearing is held, to give reasons for their findings in their reports to family health services authorities which are sent to the patients involved. Similarly, the regulations require my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to give reasons for her decisions on appeals and it is standard practice to do so.