HL Deb 10 May 2001 vol 625 cc1140-1
15 After Clause 17, insert the following new Clause—

"National patients' bode for England

(1) The Secretary of State shall by regulations establish a body corporate ("the national body") to exercise in relation to the health service in England the following functions—

  1. (a) advising the Secretary of State. and such bodies as may be prescribed, with respect to arrangements for public involvement in, and consultation on, matters relating to the health service;
  2. (b) representing to the Secretary of State and such bodies as may be prescribed, and advising him and them on. the views, as respects the health service, of Patients' Forums, Patients' Councils and those voluntary organisations and other bodies appearing to the national body to represent the interests of patients and their carers;
  3. (c) assisting Patients' Forums and Patients' Councils in, and advising them with respect to, the performance of their functions;
  4. (d) such other functions as may be prescribed.

(2) In carrying out its functions the national body shall have regard to any guidance given to it by the Secretary of State.

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations make further provision in relation to the national body.

(4) The regulations may in particular make provision as to—

  1. (a) the appointment of members:
  2. (b) any qualification or disqualification for membership;
  3. (c) terms of appointment;
  4. (d) circumstances in which a person is to cease to be a member or may be suspended;
  5. (e) the proceedings of the national body;
  6. (f) the discharge of any function of the national body by a committee;
  7. (g) the appointment, as members of a committee, of persons who are not members of the national body
  8. (h) the provision of information to the national body by a health service body. a Patients' Forum or a Patients' Council, including descriptions of information which are or are not to be provided;
  9. (i) the funding of the national body;
    10. 1141
  10. (j) the payment, to or in respect of members of the national body, of such remuneration, pensions, gratuities and allowances as may be determined in accordance with the regulations;
  11. (k) the preparation and auditing of accounts of the national body.

(5) The regulations may include provision applying, or corresponding to, any provision of Part 5A of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (access to meetings and documents), with or without modifications.

(6) The regulations may authorise the national body to make charges for the provision of advice or other services.

(7) The national body shall—

  1. (a) prepare a report in relation to its activities in each financial year,
  2. (b) as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, send a copy of its report for that year to the Secretary of State,
  3. (c) publish any such report in accordance with prescribed provisions,
  4. (d) make such other reports to the Secretary of State, and supply to him such information, as he may require.

(8) Before making any regulations under this section the Secretary of State shall consult—

  1. (a) such persons as appear to him to be appropriate to represent the interests of patients and their carers, and
  2. (b) such other persons (if any) as appear to him to be appropriate.

(9) In this section—

"carer" has the same meaning as in section (Reform of Community Health Councils);

"the health service" has the same meaning as in section 7:

health service body" means—

  1. (a) a Health Authority,
  2. (b) a Special Health Authority,
  3. (c) an NHS trust, or
  4. (d) a Primary Care Trust;

"patient" has the same meaning as in section (Reform of Community Health Councils);

prescribed means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State."

The Commons disagreed to this amendment for the following reason—

15A Because it would involve a charge on public funds, and the Commons do not offer any further Reason, trusting that this Reason may be deemed sufficient.
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do not insist on their Amendments Nos. 9 to 15 to which the Commons have disagreed for their reasons numbered 9A to 15A.

Moved, That the House do not insist on their Amendments Nos. 9 to 15 to which the Commons have disagreed far their reasons numbered 9A to 15A.—(Lord Hunt of Kings Heath.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.