§ Mr. RandallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what code of practice is in place to prevent conflicts of1266W interest concerning solicitors whose practices undertake medical negligence cases who are a (a) board member and (b) chairman of a health trust. [173308]
§ Mr. HuttonThe codes of conduct and code accountability for national health service boards require that all board members should declare any conflict of interest that arises in the course of conducting NHS business. The codes also requires that board members should declare any business interests in the field of health and social care which should be formally recorded in the minutes of the board and entered into a register which is available to the public. When a conflict of interest is established, the board member involved is also required to withdraw from any related board discussion and not play any part in the relevant discussion or decision All NHS board members are required on appointment to sign an undertaking that they will comply with the provisions of the codes. A copy of the codes is available in the Library.