NHS: Standards

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure patients (a) at Barnet and Chase Farm hospital, (b) at the Royal Free hospital, (c) at Edgware hospital and (d) in the NHS (i) are treated with dignity and respect and (ii) have their human rights observed.

Mr. Bradshaw
Treating service users with dignity and respect is an important part of hospital care. Hospitals are aware of the need to improve the way in which services are offered to promote dignity and are monitored against it through Healthcare Commission inspections.

I understand that in the most recent Healthcare Commission assessments, for 2006-07, Barnet primary care trust, Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals NHS trust and Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust all met all of the assessments criteria that relate to dignity and respect.