Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Baroness Neuberger (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 23 November 2005. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee proceeding on NHS Redress Bill [HL].


NHS Redress Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the Minister for what she has said. However, perhaps I may tease out from her further information about the possibility of patients receiving legal advice much earlier on in the process, particularly in a situation where the patient is bringing the proceedings rather than the trust doing so. We are all concerned about how patients will know whether it is better for them to go down the redress scheme route or to bring legal proceedings if they do not receive at least quasi-legal advice at the time? I cannot quite get my head round this. If you do not know at the outset what is likely to happen and what is a reasonable runner for you, and you are quite upset or angry, how do you get such advice? If it is left to PALS and ICAS, I suspect that in many cases the advice may not be specialist enough and may not give patients sufficient confidence in the system. Perhaps I can tease out a little more from the Minister on that particular issue.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
675 c400-1GC 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
Subjects
Complaints Compensation Civil proceedings Hospitals Legal representation NHS Patients Payments Negligence Solicitors Time limits Torts Patient advice and liaison services Health Service Commissioner NHS Litigation Authority Independent complaints advocacy services
Legislation
NHS Redress Bill (HL) 2005-06
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk