---

NHS Redress Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 8:"Page 2, line 23, leave out ““an”” and insert ““a full””" The noble Earl said: I propose that the requirement in Clause 3(2)(b) that a scheme must provide for the ““giving of an explanation”” ought, more appropriately, to read,"““the giving of a full explanation””." If a patient has taken the step of referring a grievance to the NHS redress scheme, he is owed more than merely a line or two by way of explanation. He is owed a proper and detailed commentary that will enable him to make a considered judgment about what to do next. He must be in a position to make a balanced assessment of the events that gave rise to the referral under the scheme and the reasons why those events happened. If he is to receive legal advice under Clause 8, his legal adviser must not find that the explanation offered by the body concerned is too skimpy to enable him to reach a proper conclusion on behalf of his client. One of the aims has to be a culture of openness; we are all agreed about that. Is the Minister satisfied that paragraph (b) is sufficiently unambiguous to achieve that aim? I beg to move.