HC Deb 20 November 2003 vol 413 cc1410-1W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of possible savings to the NHS if all staff exclusions were dealt with in six months. [140007]

Mr. Hutton

The National Audit Office in its report "The Management of Suspensions of Clinical Staff in NHS Hospital and Ambulance Trusts in England" has made an assessment of the possible savings.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to respond to findings by the National Audit Office on staff exclusions, with particular reference to(a) practice by trusts in following procedural guidelines, (b) the provision of cost information and (c) the use of confidentiality clauses in settlements. [140009]

Mr. Hutton

We are currently considering how the findings of the National Audit Office (NAO) report relate to the new framework for exclusion, which we are discussing with the British Medical Association. The NAO report will be discussed at a Public Accounts Committee hearing in the New Year, and the Government will respond formally to any recommendations that the committee decides to make.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that trusts(a) support excluded clinical staff and (b) enable them to continue their professional development. [140017]

Mr. Hutton

We are discussing with the British Medical Association a new framework for exclusions, including the provision of support: mechanisms for those staff subject to exclusion.