HC Deb 03 November 1993 vol 231 cc215-6W
Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to require all surgeons and anaesthetists to provide audit data for national confidential inquiry into perioperative death.

Mr. Sackville

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 28 October at column766. We strongly support the participation of all clinicians in medical audit and in national confidential inquiries, but to be effective we believe that this must be done on a voluntary basis. All surgeons and anaesthetists are encouraged to take part in the national confidential inquiry into perioperative deaths by their respective royal colleges.

Mr. Batiste

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Government's response to the report of the national confidential inquiry into perioperative deaths published in September.

Mr. Sackville

We have welcomed the report of the national confidential enquiry into perioperative deaths—NCEPOD—and its general conclusion that across the range of specialties covered, patients can rely on excellent standards. The report acknowledges that progress has been made to resolve a number of problems identified in earlier enquiries and provides important messages about high standards of surgical and anaesthetic care in this country. We are committed to a programme of work to improve the quality of patient information, including the development of a single patient identifier to provide a means for health event linkage.

Through careful assessment of clinical standards this enquiry helps to ensure that the medical profession retains a critical approach to its work. The Government wish to encourage all surgeons and anaesthetists to continue to support NCEPOD, and national health service managers and the profession to act on the results. We expect all doctors to participate in peer review activities, and we provide continuing financial support for medical and clinical audit, as well as for NCEPOD. In these ways doctors can develop confidence in their clinical performance and identify areas where they can further develop their expertise.