Joan Ryan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Ryan on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take in response to the announcement by Health Education England that it will not allow postgraduate training to continue in North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust’s emergency department because of concerns about support and supervision of trainee doctors at that hospital.

Ben Gummer

We understand that no announcement has been made by Health Education England (HEE) about ceasing postgraduate training in North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust’s emergency department.

We are determined to make the National Health Service the safest and most transparent healthcare system in the world, transforming patient safety and changing the culture of the NHS to support patients and doctors alike.

Patient safety is the key concern of the Government. HEE’s role is to ensure that trainees have access to safe, high quality learning. Excellence in healthcare education leads to safe, high quality care for patients in both the short term and the long term.

HEE continues to work with the Trust, NHS Improvement, NHS England and the General Medical Council (GMC) to support the Trust and ensure it has an achievable action plan for trainees to meet GMC standards.

HEE has required the Trust to have sufficient middle grade and senior cover so that junior doctors are appropriately supported. The Trust has appointed a Clinical Director to lead the improvement work required. Enhanced oversight arrangements imposed by NHS Improvement and NHS England will ensure that rotas are safely staffed. Additional support has been provided to the Trust by other NHS organisations.