§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what examination is being made by the Scottish Office of the current procedures for dealing with complaints within the national health service following the report on this matter produced by the Department of Health.
§ Mr. StewartThe report entitled "Being Heard", prepared by an independent committee under the chairmanship of Professor Alan Wilson, vice chancellor of Leeds university, makes recommendations for changes to the procedures for making and handling of complaints throughout the United Kingdom. The report was published on 11 May and my noble and learned Friend the Minister of State has invited comments on the proposals contained in the report. These should be submitted by Friday 12 August.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements exist in each health board in Scotland for dealing with patients' complaints.
§ Mr. StewartHealth boards operate on the basis of two statutory complaints procedures, as set out in the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 6 May 1994 at column687 and of a non-statutory procedure for dealing with complaints which relate to the clinical judgment of medical and dental staff in hospitals.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints have been received by each of the health boards in Scotland during each of the last five years.
§ Mr. StewartThis information is not available for the full period requested. Information about complaints is now published in a series of quarterly complaints bulletins copies of which are held in the Library of the House. The first of these bulletins covers the period from 1 January to 31 March 1993.