Ockenden Report

Debbie Abrahams Excerpts

Wednesday 30th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

The answer is yes.

[Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab)]

I, too, pay tribute to the families named in what is a truly shocking report.

I am sorry, but I have not read all the recommendations, so may I ask the Secretary of State whether, as well as identifying issues relating to the culture in this particular trust, the report includes recommendations concerning governance for boards? Boards have a key role in holding their executives to account. Will he be writing to them to make them aware of their responsibilities in that regard? May I also ask him what the implications are for the national clinical audit of the confidential inquiries into maternal and infant deaths?

[Sajid Javid]

If I may, I will write to the hon. Lady about the national clinical audit. As for her important point about boards, the report refers to their importance and the importance of ensuring that the people on them are vetted, understand their responsibilities, and have the information that they need in order to fulfil those responsibilities. In, I think, 2014 or thereabouts, the Care Quality Commission changed the rules relating to NHS trust board members, requiring them to meet a new “fit and proper” test.