Towards the end of this morning's Health Committee meeting, we were all convinced of the value of SHAs, because they carried out the consultation for Lord Darzi's review and canvassed the views of patients, citizens and staff. I changed my mind about the SHAs at the end of that meeting.

Towards the end of this morning's Health Committee meeting, we were all convinced of the value of SHAs, because they carried out the consultation for Lord Darzi's review and canvassed the views of patients, citizens and staff. I changed my mind about the SHAs at the end of that meeting.

It is a delight to follow the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard). Having trained in London rather a long time ago, I know what the standard of general practice was then, and I am very pleased to hear that it is so much better. I am delighted to follow...

It is a delight to follow the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard). Having trained in London rather a long time ago, I know what the standard of general practice was then, and I am very pleased to hear that it is so much better. I am delighted to follow...

Adjournment debate on the workload of accident and emergency departments.

Adjournment debate on the workload of accident and emergency departments.

I am grateful for the opportunity to initiate the debate, and I am revelling in the fact that I have three minutes extra, so I do not have to watch the clock. The Minister, whom I am pleased to see in his place, knows that on occasions, even though I...

I am grateful for the opportunity to initiate the debate, and I am revelling in the fact that I have three minutes extra, so I do not have to watch the clock. The Minister, whom I am pleased to see in his place, knows that on occasions, even though I...

MARS teams can be called out to solve the problems of the elderly and those with long-term illnesses, including cancer, so that they can avoid going to A and E departments and being admitted unnecessarily to hospital. Has the Minister any idea of the distribution of such teams and the...

MARS teams can be called out to solve the problems of the elderly and those with long-term illnesses, including cancer, so that they can avoid going to A and E departments and being admitted unnecessarily to hospital. Has the Minister any idea of the distribution of such teams and the...

I thank the Minister for that intervention, but although we do not need to establish LINks, there should have been some acknowledgement in the Bill of its presence and importance. LINks is in trouble over TUPE—the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. It is not yet clear whether...

I thank the Minister for that intervention, but although we do not need to establish LINks, there should have been some acknowledgement in the Bill of its presence and importance. LINks is in trouble over TUPE—the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. It is not yet clear whether...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. Independence is crucial. That obligatory independence will be lost in the complaints process that will result from the removal of the Healthcare Commission. It will be left to people in an internal complaints process to decide whether to include an independent view....

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. Independence is crucial. That obligatory independence will be lost in the complaints process that will result from the removal of the Healthcare Commission. It will be left to people in an internal complaints process to decide whether to include an independent view....

I am pleased to follow the hon. Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate), who is the only practising member of the medical profession in the House. I congratulate him on his speed of delivery, which means that he gets through a vast amount in a short time, which is very welcome....

I am pleased to follow the hon. Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate), who is the only practising member of the medical profession in the House. I congratulate him on his speed of delivery, which means that he gets through a vast amount in a short time, which is very welcome....

I shall not keep the Whips from their tea for more than a few moments but I cannot resist telling the Minister that he is in danger of making me change one of my after-dinner speeches. My limited experience of Standing Committees has been uniformly depressing and frustrating. When I...

I shall not keep the Whips from their tea for more than a few moments but I cannot resist telling the Minister that he is in danger of making me change one of my after-dinner speeches. My limited experience of Standing Committees has been uniformly depressing and frustrating. When I...

I, too, welcome the Minister’s comments on openness, which is essential. I welcome the fact that the report will be available, if requested, and I echo the comments of the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) that the right to get that must be widely publicised and known. The need...

I, too, welcome the Minister’s comments on openness, which is essential. I welcome the fact that the report will be available, if requested, and I echo the comments of the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) that the right to get that must be widely publicised and known. The need...

I am passionately on the side of those who want complete independence in the process. The Government have a short memory. The old NHS complaints procedure was not independent, in that the complaints convenor was time and again an employee of the trust or very often a non-executive director of...

I am passionately on the side of those who want complete independence in the process. The Government have a short memory. The old NHS complaints procedure was not independent, in that the complaints convenor was time and again an employee of the trust or very often a non-executive director of...

I will not comment on that point. The Minister has said that the redress scheme will be owned by the NHS. I entirely agree that the investigation has to be carried out, but there must be independent oversight for it to gain any confidence among the ordinary people. I understand...

I will not comment on that point. The Minister has said that the redress scheme will be owned by the NHS. I entirely agree that the investigation has to be carried out, but there must be independent oversight for it to gain any confidence among the ordinary people. I understand...

May I make a suggestion that may go at least half way towards answering the Minister? In ““Making Amends””, it was proposed that the NHS redress scheme should be aligned closely with the new NHS complaints procedure. If that were to happen, the Healthcare Commission would be involved, and that...

May I make a suggestion that may go at least half way towards answering the Minister? In ““Making Amends””, it was proposed that the NHS redress scheme should be aligned closely with the new NHS complaints procedure. If that were to happen, the Healthcare Commission would be involved, and that...