HL Deb 30 January 1986 vol 470 cc883-4WA
Lord Molloy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider, or have considered, extending the remit of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the National Health Service to include complaints involving clinical issues and judgments.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)

Following the report of the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in 1978 (1977–8 HC45), the Government considered this question carefully and decided that the Health Service Commissioner's remit should not be extended in this way. In 1981, the Government introduced a special procedure to deal with complaints concerning the clinical judgment of hospital doctors and dentists, based on a professional review of such cases by two independent consultants. The Government are currently reviewing that procedure with the relevant professional bodies but have no plans to reconsider the Health Service Commissioner's powers in this context.