District Health Authorities (Hansard, 9 June 1981)

§ 8. Mr. Hooley
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make arrangements to ensure that the new district health authorities maintain close working relationships with their appropriate local government authorities.

§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin
No, Sir—I beg your pardon: Yes, Sir.

§ Mr. Hooley
That is probably the quickest U-turn that we have seen from the Government. Does the Minister agree that, in preventive medicine, geriatrics and child care, it is of the utmost importance to have close collaboration between the NHS and the local authorities? In that context, does he agree that it would be infinitely preferable to have one district health authority for the whole of Sheffield, rather than splitting Sheffield artificially into two districts?

§ Mr. Jenkin
We attach great importance to maintaining effective collaboration between health authorities and local government. I plan to issue a circular later this year that will draw attention to the need for proper arrangements. The hon. Gentleman knows that there is a statutory obligation to have a joint consultative committee. That provision was contained in the 1980 Act. Members of local authorities will be appointed to serve on the new district health authorities.
To ensure that the arrangements are properly monitored, I am asking regional health authorities to report to the Government on the arrangements that are agreed locally between health authorities and local authorities. The hon. Gentleman referred to Sheffield. I hope to announce shortly a decision on the new district health authorities in the Trent region.

§ Mr. Aitken
Will my right hon. Friend encourage health authorities to develop close working relationships with the broadcasting authorities to prevent distorted and unfair portrayals of the work of the NHS? I ask that especially in the light of the criticisms expressed today by the Under-Secretary about a proposed ATV documentary. What representations do my right hon. Friend or the local health authority intend to make about the programme?

§ Mr. Jenkin
I hope to see the programme tomorrow. I want to see what the fuss is all about. The Berkshire area health authority is holding a press conference this afternoon. It will have some pretty rough words to say about the producer of the film and about the way in which it was taken in Borocourt hospital, outside Reading. I do not want to anticipate that.
There is a need for much closer understanding between the broadcasting authorities and health authorities. I am encouraging health authorities to collaborate with the broadcasting authorities whenever possible. I hope that my 256 hon. Friend recognises that there have been many useful, well-balanced programmes about special hospitals. However, the issue requires fair play on both sides. I am not sure that that is always achieved.

Several Hon. Members
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Member for Thanet, East (Mr. Aitken) asked a separate question that should have appeared on the Order Paper.

§ Mr. Kevin McNamara
Will the Secretary of State assure us that such districts as Kingston upon Hull will have adequate representation in proportion to their conurbations on whatever new authority is established in their areas? When will the new proposals for Humberside be published?

§ Mr. Jenkin
I am hoping to publish shortly the proposals for all the regions. There was widespread support for the view that district health authorities should be smaller in numbers than the existing area health authorities, and also for the view that within the new reduced number a local authority representation of four members on each district health authority should be the norm. That is what we are proposing.