HL Deb 25 February 1998 vol 586 cc95-6WA
Lord Judd

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How far the purpose and terms of reference of the current review of the working of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Acts are consistent with the health policy priorities set out in their recent White Paper, The New NHS (Cm 3807). [HL619]

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)

The recent White Paper,The New NHS, includes a commitment to building on and strengthening the existing systems of professional self-regulation to ensure that they are open, responsive and publicly accountable, and recognises the key role of the regulatory bodies. The current independent review of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act presents an important opportunity to stimulate debate on providing the nursing, midwifery and health visiting professions with an appropriate framework for professional self-regulation which provides protection to the public.