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Shipman Inquiry

I am prompted to intervene by the Minister’s remark about the relationship between professional regulation and clinical governance among NHS employers. If I recall correctly—I do not have the quotation to hand—Dame Janet Smith was clear about the desirability of ensuring that we did not rely excessively on NHS clinical governance structures where those who were providing the medical services were not necessarily in NHS employment structures. Does the Minister agree that clinical governance is of great importance not only for the NHS but for health care providers that happen not to be NHS organisations? We should create a structure that is robust in both those circumstances.