Brendan Ryan (Labour)

It has been suggested that in many areas of delegated responsibilities, where the senior medical person is no longer the person who is professionally liable, there is widespread reluctance to use the delegated authority. People are aware they are open to major legal consequences. We must reassure professionals that as long as they act in an appropriate fashion, taking what peers determine to be appropriate levels of care, they will not be subject to legal actions which they cannot sustain. This is true of all professionals and everybody is responsible for doing a job competently and to an acceptable standard.

Regarding the other Bill I have debated with the Minister of State, concerning sub-professions within medicine and social care, people in those professions should also meet a certain standard. When people meet that certain standard they should not have to worry about the possibility of being sued for doing their job in a way everyone regards as competent but which sometimes results in unfortunate consequences. This applies to consultants as well as nurses.

I would have wished we could have debated this in a different manner as it requires further discussion.