Written question asked by Lynne Jones (Labour) on Thursday, 19 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 October 2006. It was answered by Andy Burnham (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 November 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Healthcare Commission

Question: (2) how many complaints are under consideration by the Healthcare Commission; and what proportion of these has been under consideration for up to (a) three months and (b) six months.

Answer: The Healthcare Commission assumed responsibility for the independent review of national health service complaints at the end of July 2004. I understand from the Chairman of the Commission that between then and 24 October 2006, it received 18,100 requests for review. The Commission has closed 13,400 cases. Of the remaining 4,700 open cases, 3,200 (68 per cent.) have been with the Commission for more than three months. 2,400 of the open cases (51 per cent.) have been with the Commission for more than six months.I also understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that as at 30 September 2006, the average age of a closed case was six and a half months. The longest time to resolve a case was two years and two months—this case raised a number of complex issues which required detailed clinical advice.

Secondary information