OFFICIALS and members of health boards in Scotland should be made to
declare any outside business interests, particularly involving private
health care companies, an MP demanded yesterday.
Mr Michael Connarty, the Labour MP for Falkirk East, wants a
''register of interest'', similar to that already operated within
Parliament. He intends to pursue the matter in the Commons.
His call follows his criticism of the consultation process carried out
recently by Forth Valley Health Board into its plans for the care of the
elderly.
He described the process as a sham, claiming a report written two
years ago suggested a deal had already been agreed between the health
authority and Associated Nursing Services of Battersea to build a
120-bed nursing home for the elderly in the Bainsford area of Falkirk.
Mr Connarty continued: ''It may be that it is just dogma and prejudice
which is driving Forth Valley Health Board to privatise the care of the
elderly but I want to see a copy of the register of interests of health
board members and officials.''
Last night, a spokeswoman for the health board said it already had
procedures for members to declare any interest.
In a statement issued by the health board, it also emphasised that no
deal had been reached with a private contractor.
It said that after long and careful consideration and appraising all
the options, a decision in principle was approved by the board to pursue
partnership care in the case of the elderly.
''Following this a public consultation exercise was undertaken, the
results of which will be reported to the board later this month.''
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