NHS Redress Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 49:"After Clause 14, insert the following new clause—" ““APPEALS    The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for an appeals mechanism in relation to decisions made under the scheme.”” The noble Baroness said: My Lords, this is a repeat of an amendment discussed in Committee. It was submitted by the BMA, which wishes us to pursue it. Notwithstanding some of the points made throughout our discussion about how the redress scheme would work, particularly in relation to complaints procedures, the BMA wishes to make the point that there is no appeals mechanism for a person who disagrees with decisions reached under the scheme, regardless of whether they are entitled to redress. The BMA remains concerned that advice will be available only in certain circumstances. Therefore, in the BMA’s view, and given the technical nature of some of the decisions that will be reached, there is still a need for an appeals procedure within the redress scheme. I beg to move.