§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will remove Sir Robin Buchanan from the posts of chairman of Wessex regional health authority and chairman of the NHS Supplies Authority during investigations into the privatisation of computer services.
§ Mr. SackvilleNo. I have every confidence in Sir Robin Buchanan as chairman of the Wessex regional health authority and of the National Health Service Supplies Authority. He has fully encouraged and supported the extensive action taken by management of the Wessex RHA to rectify the organisational problems associated with RISP.
The district auditor commended the actions of the RHA in his report on the RISP project.
Sir Robin was selected as the most appropriate chairman for the NHS Supplies Authority because of his wide knowledge and experience of supplies issues. Under his chairmanship, NHS Supplies is already demonstrating the savings that it can make in purchasing goods and services for the NHS, which leaves the NHS with more money for direct patient care.