1.15 Health Boards must make available lay conciliators where Trusts feel these
may be useful for complainants and practices. Arrangements for appointing lay
conciliators and, where appropriate, professional advisers to the lay conciliators,
are a matter entirely between Health Boards and Trusts. Confidentiality must be
strictly observed during the conciliation process. Conciliation is essentially
a process of reaching agreement between practitioner and complainant. As a result,
conciliators should never be required to report to Primary Care Trusts or Island
Health Boards on the outcome of conciliation, although they are expected to provide
progress reports on their activity from time to time, including informing the
Primary Care Trust or Island Health Board when it has ceased. Nor should conciliators
provide information which might then be used by the Primary Care Trust or Island
Health Board should a complainant prove dissatisfied with local resolution and
ask for independent review. See Annex 1C for further information.
