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Patient Safety

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship for the first time, Mr. Russell. I am grateful to my right hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Barron), who is the Chair of what is undoubtedly a prestigious Committee in the House of Commons. The Health Committee has held many inquiries. I gave evidence to this one, and was pleased to do so. As a practising nurse for more than 28 years, I was pleased to have openness at last as to what takes place in our health service, and I am pleased that we are having this debate on the important subject of patient safety. I congratulate my right hon. Friend and his colleagues on the excellent report that they produced last year on this subject, and for the contribution that they have made to the provision of safe services for patients. The first Committee on which I served when I was elected to the House was the Health Committee, and I know of its importance and the difficult work that it has to take on. Fortunately, the vast majority of people treated by the national health service receive high quality and efficient treatment. They recover and have their confidence and control restored, in whatever capacity they enter the NHS. The hon. Member for Guildford (Anne Milton) acknowledged the expertise in the Room, and mentioned that I share her profession, which was nursing. I am sure she would admit that we never practised in a golden age, regardless of the matrons that the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor) wants back. They are back—we have brought our matrons back—and ward sisters are firmly in place. They were highlighted in the report on the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery. I have no doubt that, had we practised together, we would have had some interesting times and provided very safe patient care.