Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the oral statement of 26 March 2013, Official Report, column 1473, on Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, what progress he has made on the development of a barring scheme to prevent managers found guilty of gross misconduct from finding a job in another part of the NHS.
Answer
The Government is committed to establishing a barring mechanism to ensure that managers found guilty of gross misconduct are prevented from being re-employed in a similar role in the national health service.
A scheme such as this needs to be developed very carefully to ensure that it reassures the public while at the same time enhancing the professional esteem of the majority of senior managers who provide good leadership that results in patients receiving care that is dignified, compassionate and respectful.
To this effect we have been working closely with key organisations to develop an effective, proportionate approach and will publish an update on progress later in 2013.