To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress towards eliminating methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in hospitals.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress towards eliminating methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in hospitals.

My Lords, the House will be grateful to the Minister for repeating the Statement. The fact that positively glares at us as we listen to this very disturbing announcement is that the deficiencies evident at these two hospitals are not newly discovered findings. They have been known about for many...

My Lords, the House will be grateful to the Minister for repeating the Statement. The fact that positively glares at us as we listen to this very disturbing announcement is that the deficiencies evident at these two hospitals are not newly discovered findings. They have been known about for many...

In moving this amendment I shall speak also to Amendment 36, and in doing so bring us to a subject that is particularly close to the Minister’s heart, namely quality accounts. I should say immediately to him that I see considerable potential in the idea of quality accounts. Nothing that...

In moving this amendment I shall speak also to Amendment 36, and in doing so bring us to a subject that is particularly close to the Minister’s heart, namely quality accounts. I should say immediately to him that I see considerable potential in the idea of quality accounts. Nothing that...

Clause 6: Duty of providers to publish information Amendment 33 33: Clause 6, page 4, line 13, after ““containing”” insert ““(but not limited to)””

Clause 6: Duty of providers to publish information Amendment 33 33: Clause 6, page 4, line 13, after ““containing”” insert ““(but not limited to)””

I hope the Committee will forgive me for descending into the realm of drafting detail, but Clause 7(3) contains the word ““notify”” as a plural verb applying to the subject of the sentence. Both the CQC and an SHA are singular entities in statute law. If they are separated, as...

I hope the Committee will forgive me for descending into the realm of drafting detail, but Clause 7(3) contains the word ““notify”” as a plural verb applying to the subject of the sentence. Both the CQC and an SHA are singular entities in statute law. If they are separated, as...

Clause 7: Supplementary provision about the duty Amendment 40 40: Clause 7, page 5, line 7, leave out ““notify”” and insert ““notifies””

Clause 7: Supplementary provision about the duty Amendment 40 40: Clause 7, page 5, line 7, leave out ““notify”” and insert ““notifies””

That is immensely gratifying. Amendment 40 agreed. Amendments 41 and 42 not moved.

That is immensely gratifying. Amendment 40 agreed. Amendments 41 and 42 not moved.

Amendment 44 can be dealt with briefly. Under Clause 7(7), "““the provider must keep affixed, in a conspicuous place at each of the premises at which the provider provides services … a notice stating how the most recent document published by the provider under that section may be obtained””." Members...

Amendment 44 can be dealt with briefly. Under Clause 7(7), "““the provider must keep affixed, in a conspicuous place at each of the premises at which the provider provides services … a notice stating how the most recent document published by the provider under that section may be obtained””." Members...

I am very grateful to the Minister. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 44 withdrawn. Clause 7, as amended, agreed.

I am very grateful to the Minister. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 44 withdrawn. Clause 7, as amended, agreed.

Clause 8: Regulations under section 6 Amendment 45 45: Clause 8, page 5, line 36, after ““section”” insert ““6”” Amendment 45 agreed. Clause 8, as amended, agreed. Amendments 46 and 47 not moved.

Clause 8: Regulations under section 6 Amendment 45 45: Clause 8, page 5, line 36, after ““section”” insert ““6”” Amendment 45 agreed. Clause 8, as amended, agreed. Amendments 46 and 47 not moved.

I felt sure that we would be treated to an impressive and illuminating speech from the Minister in response to this amendment and so it has proved. For that, I thank him on behalf of the Committee. This has been an extremely good debate. However, I am left with one...

I felt sure that we would be treated to an impressive and illuminating speech from the Minister in response to this amendment and so it has proved. For that, I thank him on behalf of the Committee. This has been an extremely good debate. However, I am left with one...

Amendment 39 39: Clause 6, page 4, line 40, at end insert— ““( ) In this section to ““publish”” includes to make available to the public by means of a website.””

Amendment 39 39: Clause 6, page 4, line 40, at end insert— ““( ) In this section to ““publish”” includes to make available to the public by means of a website.””

I welcome the Minister’s valuable assurances on this topic. I am glad that the noble Lord, Lord Walton, intervened to ask about the National Quality Board. Until the Minister replied, I had a feeling that there might be an in-house feel to the National Quality Board. That is clearly not...

I welcome the Minister’s valuable assurances on this topic. I am glad that the noble Lord, Lord Walton, intervened to ask about the National Quality Board. Until the Minister replied, I had a feeling that there might be an in-house feel to the National Quality Board. That is clearly not...

My Amendment 29 is designed to say much the same as the amendment in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, only less prescriptively. Listening to the noble Baroness, I think that her approach might be better than mine. There is a good case for being prescriptive. The central...

My Amendment 29 is designed to say much the same as the amendment in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, only less prescriptively. Listening to the noble Baroness, I think that her approach might be better than mine. There is a good case for being prescriptive. The central...

In moving Amendment 38, I shall speak also to Amendment 49. These amendments share the same theme. They attempt to focus on what I see as a critical issue in the area of quality accounts, which is audit and validation. I mentioned in the last but one group of amendments...

In moving Amendment 38, I shall speak also to Amendment 49. These amendments share the same theme. They attempt to focus on what I see as a critical issue in the area of quality accounts, which is audit and validation. I mentioned in the last but one group of amendments...

Amendment 38 38: Clause 6, page 4, line 35, at end insert— ““( ) The Care Quality Commission shall, in a manner which the Secretary of State shall prescribe, review and report on the accuracy and completeness of any information contained in a document published in accordance with subsections (1)...

Amendment 38 38: Clause 6, page 4, line 35, at end insert— ““( ) The Care Quality Commission shall, in a manner which the Secretary of State shall prescribe, review and report on the accuracy and completeness of any information contained in a document published in accordance with subsections (1)...

I hope that the Minister will agree that the purpose served by amendments of this kind is to enable us to look at issues, rather than to suppose that the wording of the amendments should literally be transposed into legislation. That purpose has been well served by this short debate...

I hope that the Minister will agree that the purpose served by amendments of this kind is to enable us to look at issues, rather than to suppose that the wording of the amendments should literally be transposed into legislation. That purpose has been well served by this short debate...

In moving Amendment 39, I shall speak also to Amendments 41 and 42. These amendments all have to do with one thing, which is the need for NHS providers, as well as the Government, to make sure that information on quality and performance in the health service is readily available...

In moving Amendment 39, I shall speak also to Amendments 41 and 42. These amendments all have to do with one thing, which is the need for NHS providers, as well as the Government, to make sure that information on quality and performance in the health service is readily available...

I shall speak to Amendment 43 in the group. It is a simple amendment about consultation and inclusiveness. I have no doubt that the content and format of quality accounts will evolve over the years as we get better at using them and discover more of what we want from...

I shall speak to Amendment 43 in the group. It is a simple amendment about consultation and inclusiveness. I have no doubt that the content and format of quality accounts will evolve over the years as we get better at using them and discover more of what we want from...

I am grateful to the Minister. At the same time, he will recognise that there is an anxiety out there that bodies will be told to change the information that they are supplying from year to year and that no sooner than they get used to one set of indicators...

I am grateful to the Minister. At the same time, he will recognise that there is an anxiety out there that bodies will be told to change the information that they are supplying from year to year and that no sooner than they get used to one set of indicators...