Managing Risk in the NHS

Chris Kelly Excerpts

Wednesday 17th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me make some progress.

On leadership, there has to be accountability for failed leadership through the introduction of a national barring list for unfit managers, similar to the one that we have for teachers.

[Chris Kelly (Dudley South) (Con)]

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust is one of the 14 trusts that were reviewed by Sir Bruce Keogh. Will my right hon. Friend confirm what changes this Government have made to provide central accounting in the NHS for compensation payments that were inherited from the Labour party, under which there were no financial consequences for unacceptably poor performance and weak leadership, such as that experienced in my constituency?

[Mr Hunt]

This is the appalling fact: we have inherited from the previous Government a system of compensation payments with no significant financial penalty on trusts that have to pay out litigation claims. The focus on patient safety, the biggest discipline of all that any trust should have is to reduce patient safety incidents, should be the thought of having to pay compensation. That disincentive was removed. Absolutely, we will look at that.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Kelly Excerpts

Tuesday 17th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Chris Kelly (Dudley South) (Con)]

3. What assessment he has made of the performance of the NHS in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley)]

At the beginning of this month, I laid my first annual report before the House setting out the achievements of the health service in 2011-12. The report showed that the NHS had continued to maintain or improve all the key performance standards while delivering unprecedented efficiency savings and a strong financial out-turn. That is a testament to the achievements of all NHS staff.

[Chris Kelly]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Will he confirm that the numbers of people waiting over 18 weeks, over 26 weeks and over 52 weeks for treatment are now at their lowest-ever levels—lower than when Labour was in office? Will he also confirm that that gives the lie to Labour’s claims that waiting lists are increasing?

[Mr Lansley]

Yes; I am grateful to my hon. Friend. When we came into office, something like 209,000 people had waited over 18 weeks. We have reduced that figure to 160,000. The number waiting over a year was nearly 19,000, and we have brought that down to below 5,000. I remind Opposition Members that in Wales the target for the number waiting more than 26 weeks has not been met—the figure stands at 6%, whereas in England it is 2.2%.

Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Kelly Excerpts

Tuesday 21st February 2012 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Chris Kelly (Dudley South) (Con)]

1. What steps he is taking to address levels of PFI debt in NHS hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

[Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Con)]

9. What steps he is taking to address levels of PFI debt in NHS hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley)]

The previous Government left 102 hospital projects with £67 billion of PFI debts. We have worked closely with NHS organisations for which PFI affordability is an issue to identify solutions for them, which have included joint working with the Treasury to reduce the costs of PFI contracts. Despite that, some trusts have unaffordable PFI obligations. On 3 February I announced how each of them could access ongoing Government support to help meet those costs.

[Chris Kelly]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Russells Hall hospital was expanded in 2003, but still has £1.8 billion of PFI debt attached to it—debt which will not be paid off until 2042. What steps is he taking to help reduce the PFI costs for hospitals such as mine that have not been completely crippled by Labour’s PFI and therefore do not qualify for central support, but none the less have high levels of debt?

[Mr Lansley]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who illustrates the precise issue with what Labour left. Labour talked of building new hospitals but left this enormous mortgage, in effect, of £67 billion. He refers to Russells Hall hospital, which, like others, is having its contracts reviewed for potential savings following the Treasury-led pilot exercise that I described, which was undertaken at Queen’s hospital, Romford.