HC Deb 09 November 1984 vol 67 cc50-1W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what criteria the newly awarded distinction awards to medical practitioners are made.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Distinction awards are made only to consultants and community physicians in the NHS.

The criteria used by the advisory committee on distinction awards in recommending my right hon. Friend to grant distinction awards were set out by the immediate past chairman, Sir Stanley Clayton, MD MS FRCP FRCS FRCOG, in an article published in "Health Trends" (November 1979). They include direct service to patients or their general practitioners, improvement of the service training and teaching research, medical administration, and clinical or academic distinction. Hard work and outstanding service to the NHS may alone be sufficient reason for an award, particularly at the B and C levels.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what criteria increases in the grading of existing distinction awards in teaching district health authorities are made.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The criteria used by the advisory committee on distinction awards in recommending awards for consultants and community physicians in teaching district health authorities are the same as those used for practitioners from non-teaching authorities.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to fund all distinction awards to medical practitioners centrally.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

No. Health authorities meet the costs of distinction awards.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to publish the names of members of the advisory committee on distinction awards, including central awards committee, each regional higher awards committee, and regional C awards committee in the medical press each year.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

It is open to the medical press to publish the names of the members of the central advisory committee on distinction awards at any time. Membership lists of all other committees are readily available to interested practitioners through their local medical advisory machinery or on request to the secretariat.