§ 21. Mr. Geraint DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to identify and reduce the incidence of clinical negligence in the health service in Wales. [78079]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesI take the need to identify and reduce the incidence of clinical negligence very seriously. Work has been in hand for some time to achieve this aim. We have changed the funding basis of the Welsh Risk Pool so that those with bad claims records pay more. We have also implemented minimum risk standards for pool members, to identify and address potential problem areas. Failure to achieve these standards again means higher Pool contribution levels. Finally, in our consultation document, "Quality Care and Clinical Excellence" we focus on improving the quality of care, ensuring that clinical decisions are based on the most up-to-date evidence of what is known to be effective.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.