HC Deb 31 March 1994 vol 240 c1046W
Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the consistency between paragraph 1 of the nurses', midwives and health visitors' code for professional conduct and paragraphs 8, 27 and 28 of the national health service management executive "Guidance for Staff on Relations with the Public and the Media"; which document takes precedence; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

The national health service management executive's "Guidance for staff on relations with the public and the media", EL(93)51 makes plain—paragraph 2—that it complements the United Kingdom Central Council code of professional conduct.

Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters she has received criticising the NHS management executive document on "Guidance for Staff on Relations with the Public and the Media".

Dr. Mawhinney

We have received five letters which, while supporting the aims of the guidance, have offered particular criticism on points of detail.

Ms Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will renew the NHSME document on "Guidance for Staff on Relations with the Public and the Media" with particular reference to paragraphs 3, 8, 27 and 28.

Dr. Mawhinney

Sir Duncon Nichol, the then chief executive of the national health service management executive, wrote to all NHS managers on 7 September 1993 to clarify paragraph 27 of the guidance. We have no immediate plans to review the guidance.