§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps 422W to add officers from the local authorities' social services departments as full members of the district management teams of the National Health Service.
§ Dr. OwenNo. The district management team which is responsible to the area health Authority for the management of the local operational services of the National Health Service consists of people engaged in the National Health Service and it would be inappropriate to include officers whose accountability is to the local authority.
In addition to the normal contracts between officers of health and local authorities there are already in existence joint consultative committees made up mainly of members of the matching area health authorities and local authorities supported by appropriate officers. I am, however, very concerned to strengthen the collaborative approach and encourage district management teams to invite officers from local authorities to their meetings when matters of joint interest are to be discussed or to serve on teams planning community services.