Clause 13
Health and Social Care Bill
6:15 pm
Ben Bradshaw (Minister of State (Health Services; Minister for the South West), Department of Health; Exeter, Labour)
Of course, such a sanction would be used only as a very last resort. It would be used, for example, if the regulator felt that the immediate closure of a hospital or care home would endanger people’s health or even their lives. Given that assurance, I hope that the hon. Gentleman accepts that situations in which life or the quality of care are seriously at risk will be the priority of a robust, independent regulator.