Report examines the failings of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust
Concerns about mortality and the standard of care provided at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust resulted in an investigation by the Healthcare Commission which published a highly critical report in March 2009, followed by two reviews commissioned by the Department of Health.
These investigations gave rise to widespread public concern and a loss of confidence in the Trust, its services and management. ‘Independent Inquiry into Care Provided by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust: January 2005 - March 2009’ (HC 375-I & 375-II) was set up primarily to give those most affected by poor care an opportunity to tell their stories and to ensure that the lessons learned were fully taken into account in the rebuilding of confidence in the Trust.
More effective control of defamation litigations costs are urgently needed suggests Committee
The Committee's inquiry addresses concerns that the operation of libel laws and the impact of costs were stifling press freedom. 'Press Standards, Privacy and Libel’ (HC 362-I) also considers the balance between personal privacy and press freedom, and the increasing use of injunctions and super-injunctions.
It examines press standards in the UK, particularly considering Madeleine McCann's disappearance, the suicides in and around Bridgend in 2008 and phone hacking and blagging.
Government should withdraw all NHS funded homeopathy urges inquiry
'Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy’ (HC 45) examines the Government's policies on the provision of homeopathy through the National Health Service (NHS) and the licensing of homeopathic products by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This was prompted after a Government response in September 2009 indicated that scientific evidence was not used to formulate the licensing regime operated by the MHRA.
This inquiry is an examination of the evidence behind government policies on homeopathy, not an inquiry into homeopathy. The task was to determine whether scientific evidence supports government policies.
UK care capacity for injured service personnel should be improved
This report, 'Treating Injury and Illness Arising on Military Operations (HC 294)' finds the clinical treatment and rehabilitation of service personnel seriously injured on military operations to be highly effective, but notes that the rate of illness and minor injury among personnel on operations has almost doubled in three years.
522 military personnel were seriously injured on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan between October 2001 and October 2009. Personnel on operations have attended medical facilities 125,000 times for minor injury and illness since 2006 and a further 1,700 times for mental health conditions. The NAO has estimated that the cost of medical care provided as a result of military operations was £71 million in 2008-09.
Work and Pensions Committee calls for the establishment of a Welfare Commission
In this report, 'Decision Making and Appeals in the Benefits System (HC 313)' the Work and Pensions Committee reiterates its call for the establishment of a Welfare Commission to create a fairer and simpler benefits system that claimants can understand and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) can administer more accurately.
The report concludes that the vast majority of decisions DWP makes are accepted by claimants and lead to the right benefits being paid on time to those who are eligible. However, the level of official error in the benefits system has increased substantially since 2000-01.
Government to implement improvements to the Armed Forced Compensation Scheme
In 2009 Lord Boyce independently chaired a review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. This report, 'The Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (Cm. 7798)' announces that the government will implement in full all of the recommendations from that Review.
Report urges radical changes to teachers’ professional development
Major reforms must be introduced to help newly qualified teachers make the transition from their initial training to their first teaching post. The pressures on teachers at the start of their careers are considerable and the Committee calls for measures that reduce the front-loaded nature of teacher training.
Much greater space and incentives for early career teachers to supplement initial training with a relevant masters qualification are vital. Mentoring support for these teachers must be improved and extended.
Ministry of Defence must accelerate the reform process
The Government has announced a strategic defence review, the first since 1998, to take place after the next election. This green paper, 'Adaptability and Partnership: Issues for the Strategic Defence Review’ (Cm. 7794) aims to contribute to discussion of the key issues and to build a broad consensus on the direction to take.
It sets out the assessment of the UK's interests, the changing international context in which they will be promoted, the use of force in this changing context, and key areas where there is a need to adjust policy and process.
Report calls for the formation of a National Security Committee
The Home Affairs Committee believes that while the structures now in place may be suitable for combating the terrorist threat as currently constituted, it is not confident that government institutions have the desire to constantly adapt to meet ever-changing threats. A lack of political will has hindered the institution of valuable reforms such as regional policing counter-terrorism units and a degree of institutional inertia has set in to counter-terror operations in the UK.
'The Home Office's Response to Terrorist Attacks’ (HC 117-I) calls for the merger of many different counter-terrorism committees into a single, formalised National Security Committee, chaired by the Home Secretary or Prime Minister and assisted by a National Security Advisor.