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Abuse by Health Staff

Answer

The investigation of any adverse incident involving healthcare staff is primarily a matter for the local national health service community. Where professional conduct issues are raised then the Department would also expect the relevant professional and regulatory body to be involved. In cases where there are wider concerns about the failure of the systems in place to prevent such incidents, NHS trusts and strategic health authorities may set up independent investigations but information on these is not collected centrally.The independent Healthcare Commission and Commission for Social Care Inspection also investigate serious failures in the provision of health and social care which may also involve abuse by healthcare staff.Since May 2001, the Department has set up the following independent investigations following concerns about healthcare professionals.

Date set up	Inquiry	Date reported
July 2001	An independent investigation into how the NHS handled allegations about the conduct of Clifford Ayling (a former Kent general practitioner) under section two of the NHS Act 1977	September 2004
July 2001	An independent investigation into how the NHS handled allegations about the performance and conduct of Richard Neale, a gynaecologist who practised in Yorkshire	September 2004
July 2001	An independent investigation into how the NHS handled allegations of about the conduct of two psychiatrists, William Kerr and Michael Haslam under section two of the NHS Act 1977	July 2005
November 2001	An independent review of paediatric neurology services at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust	October 2003

The Government are awaiting the recommendations of a review by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of certain aspects of medical regulation, including the revalidation of doctors. The CMO is currently finalising his report and will be reporting to ministers in the near future. Once Ministers have considered the CMO's recommendations, the Government will publish a comprehensive action programme responding to the recommendations in the Ayling, Neale and Kerr/Haslam inquiries as well as the outstanding recommendations of the Shipman Inquiry.Both the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the Department have produced detailed action plans to follow up the recommendations of the review of paediatric neurology services at Leicester effectively in order to minimise the risk of similar future occurrences.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

70813; 446 c1546-8W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Misconduct NHS

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk