§ Mr. Evennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the adequacy of current standards of safety for employees in National Health Service hospitals; and how such standards are monitored.
§ Mr. John PattenResponsibility for the safety of health service staff is a matter for the health authorities concerned, subject to control and inspection by the Health and Safety Inspectorate. We are concerned that high standards of safety should at all times be maintained in the National Health Service and that all employing authorities and their staffs should comply fully with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act. The Department co-operates closely with the Health and Safety Executive in developing solutions to problems of health and safety and through the Health Service Advisory Committee provides an open forum in which health authorities and staff associations may raise any problem affecting the health and safety of staff.
These arrangements are working well and I can assure my hon. Friend that I know of no instance where a health authority has failed to comply with the requirements of a Crown enforcement notice issued by an inspector.