Written question asked by Esther McVey (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 July 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 July 2025. It was answered by Ashley Dalton (Labour) on Friday, 18 July 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Patient Safety Commissioner

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 94 of his Department's policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 year health plan for England, published in July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of transferring the hosting arrangement for the Patient Safety Commissioner to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the level of independence of that post.

Answer

Dr Dash’s review of patient safety across the health and care landscape was published in July 2025. The review sets out a broad aim to streamline, simplify, and consolidate functions across the patient safety landscape. Dr Dash made nine recommendations which the Government has accepted in full and fed into the 10-Year Health Plan.

The review specifically recommends that the patient safety commissioner is hosted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The office of the patient safety commissioner remains accountable to the Department, as it is now.

The Patient Safety Commissioner will play an important role in holding the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to account for its work on patient safety and in ensuring that patient safety and the voice of patients remains a core priority in the agency’s work.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 66537
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Fit for the Future: The 10 Year Health Plan for England
Thursday, 3 July 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Grouped for answer: Yes
Subjects: Patient Safety Commissioner
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Patient Safety Commissioner

Secondary information

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