Clause 36 - Persons performing primary ophthalmic services
Health Bill
5:00 pm
Caroline Flint (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Health), Department of Health; Don Valley, Labour)
I hope that that will be the case. There would not be much point in disqualifying someone if they could turn up somewhere else and be able to practise. One would hope that there would be checks and balances in the system such that part of someone's working in an area would involve a reference to the PCT with which they are listed. I cannot explain the detail of how that will happen, but as it is an important point, I will write to the hon. Gentleman about the safeguards that would apply in such a situation.
Another issue is that of disqualification, which, clearly, is a serious matter. In terms of choice and so on, the PCT would also be mindful of the impact on the provider of a service—and, therefore, of provision of the service—if one of its clinical professionals were disqualified. That is another reason why close relationships with the local contractor are important to deal with what I hope will be the relatively rare occasions when that may happen.
My additional information is that there is provision for the Family Health Services Appeals Authority to disqualify a practitioner throughout England and Wales. Presumably, it has mechanisms for communicating a disqualification, and obviously we want to be reassured that, as far as is practicable, it is adhered to. I hope that members will accept the clause.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 36 ordered to stand part of the Bill.