HC Deb 23 June 1993 vol 227 cc204-5W
Mr. Galbraith

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to give guidance to health boards and trusts concerning the promotion and publicity of medical treatment within their hospitals.

Mr. Stewart

The patients charter, published in September 1991, makes it clear that patients are entitled to accurate, relevant and understandable explanations about their condition and treatment. Hospitals discharge this in a variety of ways—for example, by patient information leaflets provided to patients prior to or at the start of their treatment.

The first survey of users of the NHS in Scotland, published on 5 April 1993, indicates that overwhelmingly people are satisfied with the amount of information and explanation they receive.

We have therefore no plans to issue further guidance on this at present.

Mr. Galbraith

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to give guidance to health boards and trusts concerning the duty of confidentiality when dealing with publicity and promotion related to individual patients.

Mr. Stewart

A code of practice setting out principles to ensure the confidentiality of personal health information was distributed throughout the NHS in Scotland in June 1990. This supplemented earlier guidance on procedure for dealing with press, radio and television inquiries about patients. The situation is being kept under review.