Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Accountability in the NHS

30 November 2022 · 3 other contributors · 4,167 words

Opened by Mike Penning Con Hemel Hempstead

Responding minister: Will Quince

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Mike Penning raised concerns about accountability in the nhs in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • MP Mike Penning highlighted instances of poor accountability in the NHS, citing cases where constituents suffered long-term consequences due to medical errors and inadequate care.
  • Penning called for ministerial oversight in cases where the NHS makes mistakes, urging the government to address issues proactively rather than avoiding responsibility.
  • The minister acknowledged the complexity of the NHS and the challenges in providing timely responses to constituents' concerns regarding patient safety.

Key requests to Government

Penning requested that the Government address these issues early on and not draw up the 'drawbridge' when problems occur. He asked for ministerial oversight to be established in situations where the NHS makes mistakes.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Mike Penning Con Hemel Hempstead

MP Mike Penning highlighted a lack of ministerial accountability within the NHS, citing examples where constituents faced bureaucratic nightmares when trying to address mistakes made by the health service. One example was an operation in 1986 that had detrimental long-term effects on a constituent's life and another involved a vulnerable young lady left unattended for five hours during a heatwave. Penning also noted that MPs often face similar cases from their constituents where there is a lack of joined-up thinking within the NHS, with various trusts passing responsibility back and forth.

Other contributors (3)
  • Daisy Cooper Lib Dem St Albans

    Supporting the chair's argument for better accountability in the NHS, Daisy Cooper highlights the need for urgent action on repealing the five-year rule to allow complaints and systematic data collection on sexual misconduct across hospital settings.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Congratulating the chair on securing the debate, Jim Shannon discusses siloed operations within the NHS, suggesting greater communication between trust managers and social care workers to improve efficiency and free up hospital beds.

  • Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale

    Grateful to the chair for raising issues of accountability, Tim Farron questions whether keeping NHS operational matters at arm's length reduces accountability. He raises concerns about the backlog in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Government Response

Will Quince

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir George. I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead on bringing this important debate to the House today. This Government share his commitment to ensuring that the NHS delivers excellent care to all patients and acknowledges that patient safety falls short at times. The minister highlighted the complexity of the NHS organisation and acknowledged the challenges in providing timely responses to constituents' concerns due to limited operational oversight. He committed to exploring ways to improve transparency, accountability, and learning culture within the NHS, noting significant strides such as the Health and Care Act 2022, the patient safety commissioner, and the Health Service Safety Investigations Body. The minister emphasised the importance of ministerial engagement with MPs for accurate ground-level information, acknowledging the need to balance national strategy with local operational realities.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy