Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what cross-departmental mechanism exists between the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Care to monitor and report on the implementation of the Paterson Inquiry recommendations; and how progress against those recommendations is communicated to affected patients.

As referenced in the answer to HL960, the Government accepted 13 of the 15 recommendations set out in the 2020 Paterson Inquiry Report. Of these, nine recommendations have been implemented or partially implemented, and four recommendations are in progress. While there is no timeline for full implementation, we are working with NHS England to implement the outstanding recommendations as quickly as possible.

There is currently no cross-departmental mechanism between the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Care to monitor the implementation of the Paterson Inquiry’s recommendations.

We recognise the need to strengthen oversight of recommendations. The 10-Year Health Plan committed to giving specific responsibility for reviewing, analysing, and taking forward recommendations to the National Quality Board (NQB). Work is underway to develop a central recommendations hub to support the NQB in operating a clearing house function to coordinate and prioritise recommendations, track progress of prioritised recommendations, and strengthen accountability. Plans are currently being developed for testing with rollout starting in 2027.

In December 2022, the Government published its 12-month implementation update which was available to all affected patients and stakeholders. The Government is keeping the need for further formal updates on implementation progress under review.