A chance to finally put patients first

As the Department of Health publishes the Health and Social Care Bill, Which? health campaigner Frances Blunden says:

"Now is the time for the Government to turn rhetoric about putting patients first into action. This Bill is an opportunity to ensure that patient safety and public interest are firmly at the heart of all healthcare regulation.

"At long last we will have robust reforms to the way healthcare professionals are regulated, including the introduction of a civil standard of proof for fitness to practise cases. If there are any doubts about the performance or conduct of a health professional they should not be practising.

"The new regulator proposed by the Bill, the CQC, can’t afford to sit on problems while patients suffer. It must include an urgent response unit to step in and protect patients when major problems are uncovered."

- Ends -

Notes to Editor

In October 2007 Which? launched its Impatient for change campaign to fight for improvements in the standards of care received by hospital in-patients. For more information, visitwww.which.co.uk/impatientforchange

Which? is calling for

• Regulation of both public and independent providers
• Regulation to keep up to date
• A rapid and proportionate response
• Independent regulation in the public interest
• Regular assessment of all professionals
• Improved protection for consumers

For a copy of the Which? briefing on the Health and Social Care Bill following the Queen's Speech on 6th November please contact Richard Messingham on richard.messingham@which.co.uk