§ Lord Ironsideasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to encourage medical practices to obtain certification to BS5750 and if so, whether they will ensure that certification bodies authorised by the Board of Trade are available to carry out assessments and give approvals; and
What quality assurance value they attach to medical practices which have obtained certification to BS5750 through non-accredited bodies.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)It is up to individual medical practices to decide for themselves the method they wish to adopt to demonstrate the quality of service they offer to patients. Accredited certification provides an assurance that a certification body is operating to a recognised standard. The Department of Health has commissioned research to determine advantages and disadvantages of various certification schemes including BS5750. The report is due in Autumn 1994.