Measure Making Minister needs to Amend her Ways to avoid Juvenile Party Politics. - Randerson

3.09.16pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 4th Mar 2008

Jenny Randerson is angry with the Minister's 'party political games'

Following this mornings meeting of the Proposed NHS Redress Measure Committee in the Assembly, Welsh Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Jenny Randerson AM has hit out at the Health Minister for failing to accept opposition amendments to the Measure.

Amendments to the measure, tabled by opposition spokespeople were designed to enshrine certain issues of principle in the measure such as:

1. Reports should only be withheld in exceptional circumstances and after an independent review of the reasons behind withholding.

2. An independent body should be set up to ensure that the system is working fairly and equitably and that NHS organisations are able to learn the lessons of their mistakes uncovered through the new system.

3. There should be consultation with the public before making regulations under this measure.

In each case the Minister indicated she supported the ideas behind the amendments but was not prepared to enshrine these principles in the measure itself although she says she will be including them in the regulations.

Jenny Randerson said: "I am deeply disappointed that the Minister has taken this narrow view that all good ideas have to come from the Government. For no other reason than party politics, she has rejected proposals put forward in good faith by opposition spokespeople in line with all the evidence the committee heard at stage one from a host of organisations representing NHS professionals and patients.

"I believe this institution has a great deal of growing up to do. It is at this stage in the House of Commons where the government accepts well thought-out amendments to legislation. WAG needs to take the same view if we are to get good and effective government here in Wales instead of juvenile party politics encroaching on all aspects of policy making.

"The whole point of consultation is to get the ideas of all those affected and its important the Minister listens to them no matter which party picks them up."

Notes:

Ends/