Accident and Emergency Departments

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton Excerpts

Monday 30th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

I am afraid that I am not aware of how A&E departments collect and collate this information, but I will write to the noble Lord on that matter.

[Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton (Lab)]

My Lords, would the Minister care to reflect on the fact that when this Government talk about reducing public expenditure, it is often by putting those with full training, experience and knowledge in charge, because they have won a tender, of a particular answering service, and that the health service is just one example of that? I call to mind other mistakes or misjudgments, such as police officers with skill and experience being replaced by people who just answer the phone. Will he take that issue back to the Government?

[Lord Prior of Brampton]

The noble Baroness makes an interesting point. In the main, contracts, particularly in the health service, are now based on outcomes: it is outcomes, rather than inputs, that are most important.