§ 13. Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians regarding the clinical standards set in small acute hospitals. [156296]
§ Mr. DenhamMinisters regularly meet the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians. These colleges produce guidance on clinical standards in a wide variety of contexts. The NHS Plan sets out our intention to establish the Medical Education Standards Board to ensure that patient standards and the service needs of the NHS are fully aligned with the development of the curriculum and approval of training programmes.