§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many grading appeals have so far been considered by the Trent regional health authority; how many remain to be heard; and what is his estimate of the date by which the hearing of those appeals will be completed.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 19 October 1989]: Requests for regional appeals are handled by the regional appeals committee secretariat of the general Whitley council in accordance with an agreement of the general Whitley council. I presume the hon. Member is referring to appeals about nurse clinical grading. I understand that to date 346 appeals for hearing by the Trent regional health authority have been lodged with the secretariat. As soon as full statements of case are to hand, hearings can be arranged by the regional health authority. I understand that no cases are yet ready for hearing. I can offer no estimate of how long it will take for any particular regional appeal to be heard, but I know that regional health authorities will make every effort to operate the appeals process as quickly as they are able.