§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the report into the death of Miss Sarah Lawson in Worthing undertaken by the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority will be published; [109896]
(2) whether the report and findings of the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority report into the death of Miss Sarah Lawson in Worthing will be published in full; and if he will make a statement on the policy of his Department on such inquiries. [109897]
§ Ms Blears[holding answers 28 April 2003]: The independent panel is currently completing its work and preparing the final report. We are unable to provide an exact date as to when the report will be published, or whether it will be published in full. However, Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority is committed to publishing the findings and recommendations of the independent panel's inquiry.
When a serious incident occurs, leading to serious harm or death, the requirements of those affected should be a primary concern to the trust involved, the strategic health authority and the agency undertaking the investigation. Any contact should be undertaken in a respectful, dignified and compassionate manner.
"Building a Safer NHS for Patients", published in 2001, sets out the development of a new national system for learning from adverse events. It describes how an improved system for handling investigations and inquiries across the national health service will be developed in future.