HC Deb 19 September 2003 vol 410 c1304W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government is taking to identify poorly performing(a) doctors and (b) nurses. [130155]

Mr. Hutton

The Government established the National Clinical Assessment Authority in April 2001. The key functions of the Authority include helping local organisations manage problems quickly and effectively; promoting effective local and national procedures for preventing, identifying and resolving performance problems; and providing individual assessments that recommend practical ways in which individual performance can be improved.

At present the National Clinical Assessment Authority applies only to doctors and dentists. The Government will consider the case for whether a similar approach would be appropriate for the other health professions.