Written question asked by Jim Cousins (Labour) on Thursday, 28 February 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 March 2002. It was answered by Nicholas Brown (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 March 2002 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) clinical audit, (b) clinical governance and (c) quality control procedures are in force at the Benefits Agency Medical Service.

Answer: Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) clinical audit, (b) clinical governance and (c) quality control procedures are in force at the Benefits Agency Medical Services. [40568] Mr. Nicholas Brown: Clinical governance within the NHS requires organisations to take a corporate approach to quality and performance. This is the approach which the Government expects Medical Services to take in seeking continuously to improve and develop a customer- focused service able to deliver the specified standards of quality. Medical Services carry out regular quality audit, by peer review, of the standard of medical reports provided by doctors engaged to work for them. Each doctor has his or her work audited at least once a year. Medical Services also carry out regular customer satisfaction surveys. The outcomes of audit and customer surveys are reported regularly to the Department and are validated by the Department's doctors on behalf of the Chief Medical Adviser.

Secondary information