Written question asked by Lord Beamish (Labour) on Monday, 28 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 April 2005. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the complaints procedure is for patients dissatisfied with services provided by Alliance Medical; what his policy is on where legal liability lies in the event of a medical negligence case arising from a procedure undertaken by Alliance Medical.

Answer: Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the complaints procedure is for patients dissatisfied with services provided by Alliance Medical; [224507] (2) what his policy is on where legal liability lies in the event of a medical negligence case arising from a procedure undertaken by Alliance Medical. [224509] Mr. Hutton: [holding answer 4 April 2005]: Patients who receive scans through this contract remain national health service patients throughout. All patients are therefore covered by the central negligence scheme for trusts and, in the event of any negligence claim, have the same rights as if the event occurred within the NHS. The responsibility for handling complaints rests with the appropriate NHS primary care trust or acute trust that referred the patient. Such complaints are handled through the NHS complaints process.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1700-1W;432 c1696W; 224507;224509
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Complaints Contracts Health services Liability Negligence Screening Alliance Medical
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk