Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Monday, 17 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 25 July 2000. It was answered by Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston (Labour) on Tuesday, 25 July 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce an early warning system for clinical errors.

Answer: Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce an early warning system for clinical errors. [131505] Ms Stuart: "An Organisation with a Memory", the report of an expert group chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, was published on 13 June 2000. The group examined the extent to which the National Health Service and its constituent organisations had the capability to learn from untoward incidents and service failures so that similar occurrences are avoided in future. The report's main recommendation is the introduction of a mandatory reporting system for adverse health care events and specified near misses. We are taking steps to implement such a system and expect to have made significant progress before the end of the year.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 354 c495W; 131505
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Disclosure of information Diagnosis NHS Medical treatments Negligence Standards
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk