In the first instance the Supreme Court has returned the case in question back to the High Court for retrial. In this context, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment in any specific detail on matters relating to the case. I would, however, propose to review the issue raised by the Deputy on conclusion of that court case.
On the general question of guidelines for patient admissions, the Deputy will be aware that a decision on whether to admit a patient is taken on the basis of the judgment of the assessing clinician. Admissions following general practitioner referral in the normal course will be prioritised by the relevant consultant, whereas a patient presenting as an emergency at a hospital accident and emergency Department will be assessed by the clinician or clinicians on duty who will take a decision on the appropriate form of treatment, including whether to admit the patient.
The general issue of the responsibility entrusted in junior hospital doctors for clinical decision making is necessarily tied in with the wider issue of medical staffing structures in acute hospitals. As the Deputy is aware, this is being considered through the ongoing work of the Medical Manpower Forum. The main purpose of the forum is to improve hospital services for patients, while also benefiting hospital doctors through changed work practices, greater career opportunities and improved teaching and training.
The forum has not yet submitted a report but is preparing an interim one, which I understand is nearing completion. I will be awaiting the outcome of the forum's deliberations, which I hope will reflect a consensus among all the relevant stakeholders on the way forward, before taking any policy decisions in this area.