Media centre

Press release: NHS Employers' response to the announcement of the CMO's review of patient safety

27 Jan 2005

Responding to the Department of Health's announcement today about the Chief Medical Officer's review of patient safety, Alastair Henderson, Deputy Director of NHS Employers said:

'It is vital that the organisations that employ and support the training of doctors in the NHS contribute to this debate. 

NHS Employers, the body that represents these organisations, will give employers a voice and we look forward to giving evidence to the group as their work progresses.  Over the coming months we will seek the views of NHS organisations on their issues and concerns and identify every opportunity to ensure that they are properly represented.

We are already working closely with the Department of Health, the GMC and the BMA on a range of initiatives to ensure safer recruitment in the NHS. 

NHS Employers has an important role to play in representing NHS organisations and we expect that the review will cover a number of areas for which we have responsibility including safer recruitment, whistleblowing and electronic smart cards for doctors.  In addition we will be interested in the changes to the role of the GMC as these may have implications for the regulation of other professional groups.'

Notes for editors

1. NHS Employers, the employers' organisation for the NHS in England, was launched on 1 November 2004.

Contact details

The press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers.

If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:

• Gemma Jeffcoate
  0207 074 3308 or gemma.jeffcoate@nhsemployers.org
• Emma Stafford
  0207 074 3307 or emma.stafford@nhsemployers.org

For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726.

Back to media centre