VIEWPOINT FOR 2 JULY 2009 
FROM DR RICHARD TAYLOR

One of the difficulties of being a single independent MP is that one cannot be in two places at once so I have had to make difficult choices if two vital events occurred at the same time. 
Last week, as there are now six independent MPs this was resolved! 

A debate on the Iraq war inquiry coincided with a debate on 'Equitable Life' and as two other independents were going to the Iraq debate I was free to take part in the debate on Equitable Life as I owed it to many constituents whose pension plans have been devastated by the failure of Equitable Life and I have been unable to take part in previous debates about this. 

The problems that beset this firm were unrecognised for years by regulators and the Government.  
The Ombudsman’s original report confirmed maladministration and recommended apologies and a Government funded compensation scheme.

As the Government failed to honour her recommendation for compensation for the 1.5 million people affected, some of whom now have large deficits in their pension provision, she issued a second report appropriately titled “Injustice unremedied”. 
The debate drew attention to this report and speakers asked the responding Government minister about future compensation and the effect this decision will have on the reputation and effectiveness of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to give her full title. 

Not surprisingly the response was not very helpful but at least MPs and the Ombudsman have made sure the Government will not forget the plight of so many and we will go on pressing for resolution. 
I have already written to the Chadwick inquiry on the lines of my speech in the debate and offered to be a witness as I have much information from many affected constituents.
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In 2005 the Health Select Committee undertook a brief inquiry to publicise the potentially preventable death toll from blood clots occurring in hospitalised patients in medical wards as well as after surgical operations.

The Government responded positively to all the recommendations in the report and much work has gone on since then but we are still far from the situation where every patient, elective and emergency, on admission to hospital undergoes a simple questionnaire that establishes their risk level for developing a blood clot. 
These are often symptomless, usually in the leg or pelvis and can detach and then cause a serious even fatal blockage in the blood supply to the lungs. 
The level of risk in each patient, once established then points to the appropriate, effective, preventive treatment that must be given to the particular patient. 

Last Thursday I chaired a top level summit of NHS leaders on this vital topic addressed by the Health Minister, the Chief Medical Officer, the NHS Medical Director, the President of the Royal College of GPs, Chief Executives of Strategic Health Authorities and medical experts. 
It was concluded that, as the Government is moving away from targets and compulsion, it will be up to health professionals to make sure risk assessment is carried out and we will judge the effect by falling death rates from this eminently preventable complication of hospital admission. 

A logical extension is to suggest to all patients to request this risk assessment, if it is not automatic.

RT

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