Further written evidence to be reported to the House
Health and Social Care Bill
4:45 pm
Stephen O'Brien (Shadow Minister, Health; Eddisbury, Conservative)
We kicked off with Laura Moffatt moving into the question of independence, and we have heard from Lady Justice Smith and yourselves. You talked about seeking to secure a guarantee of independence for the Office of the Health Professionals Adjudicator, and to ensure that it delivers value for money. As we scrutinise the Bill, it is important for us to understand how it will impact on specific amendments in order to establish that. General information, unfortunately, has now got to reach the detail, and there are a number of amendments tabled that we will look at in order to tease this out.
One of the areas that I feel very un-briefed on, as we move toward a line-by-line discussion of the legislation on Thursday afternoon, is the argument about independence. I would like to know what point the GMC has reached, either with the Department or in its own understanding in discussions, in securing the OHPA’s operational effectiveness. What will be the financial arrangements for the cost of the OHPA? Will they eventually fall back as a burden on the profession? Will they be met from central funds? Where is the understanding? As an Opposition Member who has looked at this carefully, I am at the moment feeling somewhat unsighted, so I would grateful if you helped me out.