§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his discussions with private hospitals on complaints handling arrangements. [14722]
§ Ms BlearsIndependent health care providers will be required to have in place effective arrangements for handling complaints as part of the new regulatory system to be introduced from April 2002 under the Care Standards Act 2000. The regulations and standards that it is proposed to apply were issued for consultation in July 2001. Organisations representing private hospitals were among those consulted. The consultation comments are currently being considered.