§ Lord Mottistoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
What will be the membership and terms of reference of the proposed National User and Carer Group, whether it will have sub-groups to deal with specific subjects such as schizophrenia, and when it is expected to begin operating.
§ Baroness CumberlegeThe first meeting of the full Users and Carers Group was held on 8th July 1993. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Mr. Bowis) attended the meeting and he invited Mr. Peter Swain to chair the group and Ms Jean Ashcroft and Mr. Joe Steen to he vice-chairmen. The group's terms of reference arc:
"To give Ministers and the department information and comment, from a user's and a carer's perspective, on the progress being made by health and local authorities in delivering community care in the light of the Government's reforms; and to promote user and carer involvement locally in the planning, commissioning and provision of health and social community care services."
The group will decide in the course of its initial discussions the specific methods by which it will work.
The membership of the group, which covers England only, is as follows:
- Jean Ashcroft—Dorset (Vice-Chairman)
- Peter Beresford—London
- Blodwen Brewster—West Yorkshire
- Joan Croft—Leeds
- John Evans—Petersfield
- Roberta Graley—Worksop
WA 10 - Lynne Gray—Newcastle upon Tyne
- Muriel Humphrey—Huntingdon
- Oliver McGeachey—Guildford
- Kevin Molloy—London
- Diane Roworth—York
- Vasant Shend'ge—London
- Judy Steele—Bingley
- Joe Steen—Liverpool (Vice Chairman)
- Peter Stock—Surrey
- Brian Stocker—London
- Marjorie Stone—Peterborough
- Peter Swain—Exeter (Chairman)
- Hazel Taylor—Sussex
- Patricia Thistlethwaite—Lancashire
- Glynn Vernon—Milton Keynes
- Dorothy White—London
- David Wormald—Newcastle upon Tyne