Government could be forced to publish risk register
pharmafile | March 9, 2012 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Healey, NHS, reforms, risk
The government has lost its appeal to keep details about the risks involved in the reform of the NHS secret.
Labour MP and former shadow health secretary John Healey had asked the government to release its ‘risk register’ in 2010, which assessed what – if any – negative impacts will come from the Health and Social Care Bill.
But the government repeatedly turned down the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests by Healey and others.
However, the information commissioner, who oversees FOIs, recently told the government it was in the public’s interest that the register be published.
The government appealed, but today the commissioner had upheld his previous judgment – meaning the register will most likely have to be published against the Department of Health’s wishes.
A DoH spokesman said: “We are still awaiting the detailed reasoning behind this decision. Once we have been able to examine the judgment we will work with colleagues across government and decide next steps.”
Healey said: “Today’s legal judgment must put an end to the government’s efforts to keep this information secret. They have dragged out this process for 15 months, while parliament has been legislating for their NHS plans.
“Ministers must now respect the law, release the risk register in full and let people make up their own minds on the NHS changes.”
This decision comes as the Health Bill enters into the latter stages of Parliament as it looks to become law by April.
The Bill is seeking to put family doctors in charge of the NHS’ budget, whilst increasing the role of private firms within the health service.
Healey said the register must be published before the Bill becomes law, so that peers and MPs can assess the risks of the reforms with this new information.
He added: “It’s near the end of the 11th hour for the NHS bill, and parliament rightly expects this information before it takes the final irrevocable step to pass the legislation.”
Ben Adams
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