HL Deb 08 July 1998 vol 591 cc143-4WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Jay of Paddington on 30 June (WA 75), whether they will, in their review of the Patient's Charter, replace the section which states that staff should ask patients whether they want to be called by their first or last names with an instruction that patients should always be addressed by their surname and title except where the patient has given express permission to be addressed by their preferred Christian name. [HL2606]

Baroness Jay of Paddington

No decisions have yet been made about what the new Charter will say. It is, however, considered good practice to ask patients how they wish to be addressed and respect that wish.