Written question asked by Lord Turnberg (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Earl Howe (Conservative) on Monday, 27 February 2012.

Health: Patient Safety

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the General Medical Council publication Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety in which doctors are asked not to sign contracts that interfere with their responsibility to report their concerns about patient safety.

Answer: The department has made clear that any clauses, inserted into an individual's contract, seeking to prohibit that individual from raising a concern in the public interest, are not to be used. Furthermore the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 renders such clauses void. The department supports and welcomes the guidance published by the General Medical Council, which advises doctors against entering into such contracts and which more generally highlights their professional responsibility that doctors have to ensure that they report any concerns about patient safety.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 15722; 735 c270WA
Session: 2010-12
Subjects: Disclosure of information Conditions of employment Doctors Patients Safety
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk