HC Deb 20 April 1994 vol 241 cc545-6W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 724, when she plans to implement recommendation 14 of HC(90)9 on proceedings against doctors, to introduce arrangements for monitoring the new procedure; when the HC(90)9 procedure is to be reviewed and by whom; how public expenditure arising from the use of this procedure is monitored; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

Employing authorities were asked to monitor the procedures in HC(90)9 in order to inform a review which commenced in April 1993. This review was carried out by a joint working party chaired by Dr. Graham Winyard, medical director of the national health service executive. The joint working party contained representatives of the medical profession, the Health Departments and national health service management. Information on the expenditure arising from the use of these procedures is not available centrally.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 724, what plans she has to set up systems for collecting information on disciplinary action on hospital doctors; and whether trusts have specific budgets to meet the legal costs when taking disciplinary proceedings against a doctor under the procedure HC(90)9.

Dr. Mawhinney

We have no plans to collect such information. Legal costs would be an expenditure item which trusts would recover in prices through the contracting system.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to her answer of 16 March,Official Report, column 724, how many doctors have been dismissed since 1990 on grounds of personal misconduct; and what was the total number of doctors dismissed from national health service posts since 1990;

(2) what changes there have been in the number of doctors (a) suspended, (b) subject to disciplinary hearing and (c) dismissed since 1990.

Dr. Mawhinney

Decisions on disciplinary action for hospital doctors and dentists rests with the employing authority or trust. This includes whether to suspend or dismiss a practitioner.