---

Shipman Inquiry

I am grateful for the intelligent way in which the hon. Gentleman is going about this discussion. However, the issue is not only about professional confidence. I did not give this example in my earlier remarks, but let us say that a doctor is accused of not meeting Government targets because he thinks that they are not right for his patients. I think that the profession would think that other doctors —independently of that doctor—would be more likely than lay people and those appointed indirectly through a Government-organised process to uphold the importance of putting patient care above the need to meet Government targets. The profession is concerned about that sort of example.