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Accountability in the NHS
30 November 2022
Lead MP
Mike Penning
Hemel Hempstead
Con
Responding Minister
Will Quince
Tags
NHSForeign AffairsStandards & Ethics
Word Count: 4167
Other Contributors: 3
At a Glance
Mike Penning raised concerns about accountability in the nhs in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
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:
Lead Contributor
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.
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
Government Response
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.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.