HL Deb 25 February 2002 vol 631 cc189-90WA
Baroness Noakes

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department of Health has completed its review of the 13 National Health Service trusts referred in the National Audit Office report Inappropriate adjustments to waiting lists as having more than 10 per cent of patients suspended and more than 2 per cent of patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment; and whether they will publish the findings of the review. [HL26961]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The National Audit Office (NAO) report highlighted important issues, which the Department of Health is taking very seriously. The department is currently looking at the management of waiting lists in the 13 trusts named in the NAO report.

Any manager found to have deliberately distorted waiting figures will face dismissal on grounds of gross misconduct. This will be supported by a new code of conduct for National Health Service managers. Anyone who breaches that code of conduct will not be re-employed as a manager anywhere in the NHS. Any action taken as a result of these reviews will be publicly available.