§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will set up working parties with(a) surgical and other hospital equipment manufacturers,(b) trusts, (c) royal colleges and (d) other bodies to devise appropriate solutions to the millennium compliance problem; [13939]
(2) what representations he has had from trusts, royal colleges and other bodies about the impact of the millennium compliance problems relating to hospital equipment. [13938]
§ Ms JowellThe National Health Service Executive set up a Year 2000 "helpline" in July 1996. Since that time, the helpline has received over four hundred calls and in response has provided information, advice and guidance to those working in the NHS. The current rate of calls is in excess of ninety per month.
The NHS Executive has made arrangements to meet with staff representing all NHS organisations, their suppliers and professional groups. The clinical professions will need to be involved particularly in making and carrying out contingency plans where critical services are affected.
The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) has received a number of requests from Trusts for advice on the Year 2000 issue as it may apply to medical equipment. MDA will shortly be issuing guidance on the appropriate action by device users and manufacturers.
MDA's guidance will ask medical equipment manufacturers to identify any of their products which are affected by Year 2000 problems and to make this information available to users and other interested parties, with an indication of the appropriate remedial action.
78WWe are satisfied that, at this stage, there is no need to set up working parties in relation to the Year 2000 issue as it may apply to medical equipment in particular.
We will require that any trust or health authority which has not got its systems ready and fully tested should notify the department by 31 December 1998.
The primary responsibility of the NHS always has been and will be patient safety.