NHS: Keogh Review

Lord Cotter Excerpts

Tuesday 16th July 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

I am rather sorry that the noble Baroness should have raised that, as I was rather keen to protect the noble Baroness, Lady Young, from any embarrassment, because I think that the whole House respects her. All I can say is that the substance of the letter to which the noble Baroness refers is diametrically opposite in content to the evidence that the noble Baroness, Lady Young, gave to the Mid Staffs public inquiry.

[Lord Cotter]

In the report there are, quite rightly, robust words about poor management. However, I refer the Minister to a point that I and others have raised in the past. There is a great concern in the health service about untrained, or poorly trained, healthcare assistants. Nurses have said to me that they are held responsible for the work done, often by untrained or inadequately trained people. I have raised this before. Can I ask the Minister to look at it again as a very serious issue?

[Earl Howe]

We are indeed looking at it very urgently at the moment in the light of the review published a few days ago by Camilla Cavendish, which focuses on exactly that issue.