§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take to recover NHS payments made to William Duff between 1991 and 1995. [12458]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 24 January 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already directed Greater Glasgow health board to recover the sum of £75,000 from Mr. Duff following the report of the NHS tribunal and other such directions will be following. Consideration is being given to whether any payments which were made to Mr. Duff can be recovered within the terms of the regulations.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will draw on the sums relating to outstanding fee claims withheld from Mr. William Duff to compensate his former patients. [12724]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 28 January 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no statutory power to draw upon sums relating to outstanding fee claims for the purpose of payment of compensation.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total earnings in fees from the NHS by Mr. William Duff in each year from the time he began practising in the Greater Glasgow health board area. [12725]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 28 January 1997]: The information requested is listed in the table:
Gross NHS general dental services item of service fees paid to Mr. William Duff 1988 to 1995 Gross earnings £ Year ending December 1988 162,000 Year ending December 1989 258,000 Year ending December 1990 319,000 Year ending December 1991 373,000 Year ending December 1992 313,000 Year ending December 1993 268,000 Year ending December 1994 266,000 Year ending December 1995 1,000 Total 1,900
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date Greater Glasgow health board commenced its investigation of the fees claimed by Mr. William Duff. [12726]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 28 January 1997]: Greater Glasgow health board commenced its investigation into fees claimed by Mr. Duff on 14 April 1993 when it received the first of 27 referrals from the Scottish Dental Practice Board.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of the patients of Mr. William Duff who were interviewed by dental referral officers have received remedial treatment; [12727]
453W(2) how many patients of Mr. William Duff had been told in advance what treatment was being prescribed. [12730]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 28 January 1997]: This information is not held centrally.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of patients who have had unnecessary treatment carried out by Mr. William Duff; how many of these have had their complaint upheld and received compensation in full; how many have been refused compensation on the grounds of their being time barred; and if he will review these cases. [12728]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 28 January 1997]: The total number of patients who have received unnecessary treatment is not available. The national health service tribunal found that in 24 cases which were the subject of referrals to Greater Glasgow health board by the Scottish dental practice division, Mr. Duff had provided unnecessary treatment. In a further two cases where complaints were considered by the health board and which were the subject of appeals to my right hon. Friend, Mr. Duff was held to have provided such treatment.
In one of the latter cases my right hon. Friend has directed that a sum be recovered from Mr. Duff for payment to the complainant to meet the cost of remedial treatment, and this has been set at the maximum contribution payable towards a course of NHS dental treatment. A similar direction is under consideration in the other case. In a total of 14 cases, complaints against Mr. Duff have not been considered by the health board's dental service committee because of the lateness of the complaint. In these circumstances, the question of compensation does not arise. There are no provisions whereby the cases which have been determined can be reviewed.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Dental Practice Board called in regional dental officers to investigate the claims for treatment submitted by Mr. William Duff; and if he will publish their report. [12729]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 28 January 1997]: Inspections of Mr. William Duff's patients were first undertaken by regional dental officers on 25 August 1986. On 12 December 1990, Mr. Duff was referred to a dental service committee by Greater Glasgow health board on the grounds that he had not employed a proper degree of skills and attention in respect of a patient. On that occasion, Mr. Duff was found not to be in breach of his NHS terms and conditions of service. In view of the confidentiality relating to health records, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State cannot publish the reports compiled by regional dental officers.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total level of fines imposed upon Mr. William Duff for breach of professional codes of practice; and what plans he has to impose further penalties. [12731]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 28 January 1997]: In response to the report on Mr. Duff's performance by the national health service tribunal dated 6 February 1996 my right hon. Friend directed Greater Glasgow health board to recover £75,000 454W from Mr. Duff by withholding from remuneration or otherwise. The board has also been directed to recover from Mr. Duff up to the maximum contribution towards the cost of a NHS course of dental treatment, at present £325, in the case of one patient. A further direction is under consideration in another case.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will order an investigation into the handling of the case of Mr. William Duff by Greater Glasgow health board. [12732]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 28 January 1997]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans for such an investigation. Mr. Duff was the subject of an inquiry and report by the national health service tribunal which directed that his name should be removed from the dental list of Greater Glasgow health board and not included in the corresponding list of any other health board. My right hon. Friend drew the matter to the attention of the General Dental Council which has now barred Mr. Duff from practising dentistry. In addition, appeals in subsequent cases concerning Mr. Duff which were the subject of investigation by the health board's dental service committee have been determined by my right hon. Friend.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide financial support to Greater Glasgow health board to organise a helpline for ex-patients of William Duff. [13950]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 6 February 1997]: Greater Glasgow health board has no plans to organise a helpline for ex-patients of William Duff. The number of requests for information received from this source would not justify such an initiative.
§ Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to reply to the questions from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill of 24 and 28 January, relating to Mr. William Duff. [17392]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI replied to the hon. Member's questions today.