Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Sixth Report - Follow-up on the IMMDS report and the Government’s response
Health and Social Care Committee
HC 689
Published 20 January 2023
Recommendations
1
Accepted
Para 22
Ensure urgent and full implementation of IMMDS review recommendations 6 and 7 on patient records
Recommendation
Without records of which patient has undergone which procedure, or been prescribed which drug, the health system will continue to, in the words of the IMMDS review team, “fly blind”. We recommend that the Government urgently ensures that the accepted …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirmed full implementation of IMMDS recommendations 6 and 7, detailing MHRA's transformation, new adverse incident reporting systems, and patient involvement strategy, alongside the development of a new medical device-level registry platform architecture (MDOR) with a target launch in April 2023 and an improved pelvic floor registry due in May 2023.
Department of Health and Social Care
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3
Accepted
Para 29
Set up register of clinicians' interests swiftly after pilot conclusion to prevent delay
Recommendation
We were encouraged to hear that the Government is going ahead with pilots of a register of clinicians’ interests, but we are disappointed by the speed at which the Government is acting on this recommendation. We urge the Government to …
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Government Response Summary
The government committed to beginning the implementation phase for a register of doctors' interests in England in April 2023, with CQC monitoring publications after an 18-month lead-in period. They also plan to progress at different paces with devolved governments and consider systems for other healthcare professionals later.
Department of Health and Social Care
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4
Accepted
Para 30
Bring in secondary legislation swiftly for register of industry payments to clinicians
Recommendation
Although the Government has also given itself the powers to set up a register of industry payments to clinicians, no decision has been made yet about how to implement it, and officials were not able to share a plan of …
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Government Response Summary
The government committed to launching a six-week UK-wide public consultation in Spring 2023 to gather public and industry views on potentially introducing regulations to mandate the reporting of industry payments and benefits to clinicians.
Department of Health and Social Care
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8
Accepted
Para 53
Require Secretary of State to detail resources for Patient Safety Commissioner's redress review
Recommendation
The focus of Patient Safety Commissioner and small team, and must remain, patient safety and harm prevention. If the additional responsibility of reviewing redress is placed on the Patient Safety Commissioner, the Secretary of State must ensure that the Commissioner …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirms the Patient Safety Commissioner will undertake a four-month review of redress schemes for sodium valproate and pelvic mesh, focusing on affected individuals' views and the case for redress. They have agreed additional resources for the Commissioner to support this work and a report will be published, though the government does not believe a new redress agency is necessary.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Conclusions (5)
2
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 23
Although the retrospective audit of mesh implants is an encouraging first step, it will be unlikely to reflect and take into account all of the adverse effects women have experienced due to the nature of data used in the audit. We therefore recommend that the Government consider an alternative strategy …
Government Response Summary
The government committed to proactive measures beyond the retrospective audit, including designing a patient questionnaire (PROMs/PREMs) to be completed by April 2023 and integrated into the Pelvic Floor Registry by May 2023, and commissioning the development of a validated PROM for pelvic floor disorders by NIHR starting May 2023.
5
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 40
Although the vision for what the role of Patient Safety Commissioner will achieve is publicised by the Department, no statement of specific assignments or areas of responsibility, have been published yet. As we set out in our report on the pre- appointment hearing with Dr Hughes, metrics for success and …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the Patient Safety Commissioner's appointment and work, stating they are continuing to work with her on appropriate resource levels and will report back once discussions conclude. The Commissioner will publish her business plan after her website is complete.
6
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 44
We are concerned that although the letter from the Department seems to outline various interactions and consultations with stakeholders, and mentions Sling the Mesh by name, this is not the experience of some patients. Patient input is vital in setting up care schemes such as this one. We therefore urge …
Government Response Summary
The government committed to reviewing mesh centre outcomes and patient experience, and has appointed two patient advocates to the NHS England Specialised Women’s Services Clinical Reference Group. An audit of specialist mesh centres is due to take place in 2023.
7
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 51
It is positive that the Government has improved its communication and information online around how to bring claims of clinical negligence through the 20 Follow-up on the IMMDS report and the Government’s response new “pathways”. However, these pathways do not represent a substantial change or benefit to stakeholders who have …
Government Response Summary
The government described the existing claims gateways, established with NHS Resolution for pelvic mesh and sodium valproate, which aim to simplify information access and the claims process. They committed to continuing to monitor the operation of these gateways and work with NHS Resolution to respond to any learning.
9
Conclusion
Accepted
We would welcome a statement from the Minister on the review of redress and a possible Redress Agency, with more details on what such a review would include and seek to achieve, and timeline for completion. (Paragraph 60) Follow-up on the IMMDS report and the Government’s response 21
Government Response Summary
The government has provided a specification for redress work to the Patient Safety Commissioner, which will focus on affected individuals' views and the case for redress, expected to take four months with a report to be published. However, the government explicitly rejected the creation of a new redress agency.