Clause 17 - Co-operation between health bodies and other organisations

Part of Health Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:45 pm on 20 December 2005.

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Photo of Andrew Murrison Andrew Murrison Shadow Minister (Health) 2:45, 20 December 2005

I was so taken with the Minister’s speech that I felt I ought to reflect on it and I could not find my place, but I have now.

We are largely content with the clause, but it deals with issues of confidentiality that trouble us a little. In my rather discursive remarks on clause 16, I said what I needed to say but I shall reiterate it in the context of clause 17. We need to be clear about the transfer of patient-identifiable material between various health bodies. That worries me considerably. I cite the example of a methadone clinic, where we are dealing with people who are quite vulnerable. We are not only dealing with the generality of medical practice, which is important in itself, but on top of that we are talking about people who have a range of conditions that are sensitive in many respects.

Controlled drugs can be used for a variety of things. They can be used for palliative care, but they can also be related to drug abuse and other sensitive areas of practice. Therefore, it is particularly important that we pay close attention to issues of medical confidentiality. We need to be clear that in transferring material from one body to another for the purposes of the clause, we are doing so in a way that is highly sensitive and preserves, as far as possible, the confidentiality of those individuals.

During this brief debate, I want to press the Minister on that matter and seek her assurance that she recognises the extent of the potential abuse that could take place and the possibility that people will be dissuaded from seeking medical advice for particular conditions if they are not absolutely confident that the organisation that they are seeking attention from will deal carefully and sensitively with information given to it in confidence. The way in which the provisions are drafted means that there is the potential for the whole thing to look far more diffuse to somebody who is seeking help in that way. That is my chief concern. We have talked about how Dame Janet’s initial recommendation might be of assistance in that respect, but clearly the Minister has chosen a different pathway. I hope that she can give me some assurances about the use of the information, particularly in respect of confidentiality.