Controversial letters have been withdrawn by NHS Forth Valley

Coline Hart

 

"Parents were furious earlier this week when it was revealed doctors are "now required" to act as informants for a child’s Government-sanctioned "named person" – although the law is not due to come in to force until 2016. The controversial policy came to light in letters sent to parents by NHS Forth Valley, which also threatened to send "copies of future relevant reports" about children to state guardians."

"But, just days after defending the practice, the health board released a statement in which it conceded: "Following further consideration, NHS Forth Valley can confirm that letters have now been withdrawn." It added that it was working with the Scottish Government to "ensure a consistent approach to information sharing and communications with patients".

"Campaigners welcomed the climbdown, with the Christian Institute’s director, Colin Hart, saying: "Forth Valley is one of many authorities that has jumped the gun. "They have acted with stealth and, having been found out, have been forced into a very embarrassing climbdown."

"The other authorities should immediately follow suit and, if they do not have the good grace to eat humble pie, they should be forced to do so by a Scottish Government which has already promised that this shameful named person project should not be implemented until 2016 at the earliest."

"A "No to Named Persons" conference is being held in Edinburgh on Monday and a legal challenge to the policy, spearheaded by the Christian Institute, has been launched. Lawyers have already submitted an application for a judicial review of the Scottish Government’s contentious Children and Young People Bill after the campaign raised £30,000 in donations."

"It came as it emerged that a leading critic of the plans is planning to stand for election at Holyrood to oppose the named persons policy. Dr Stuart Waiton, a sociology lecturer at Abertay University in Dundee, could stand as a single-issue candidate in 2016."

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/480825/Hospital-bosses-forced-into-climbdown-over-snoop-threat-to-parents