§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what changes he intends to make in the system of joint consultation within the National Health Service, so that more decisions affecting the running of individual hospitals can be taken in the hospital concerned;
(2) if he will give details of what subjects can be discussed in a hospital joint consultation committee between the hospital management and representatives of the staff and work force; and what 297W authority is given to the individual hospital management to decide staff matters, including such particulars as overtime, bonuses, holidays, promotion, manning levels, consequential upon such consultation.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe General Whitley Council agreement on Staff Consultative Machinery provides for hospital staff consultative committees based on individual hospitals to deal within the framework of any national agreements with such matters as the distribution of working hours, holiday arrangements, questions of physical welfare and consideration of local hospital rules affecting staff. Discussion of other subjects can and does take place by agreement between management and staff.
Management at hospital level usually has authority to deal with these matters, but if there are wider implications it may be necessary to refer to the district management team or area health authority.
Our aims are to encourage the maximum devolution of decision making and to improve the arrangements for joint consultation on which we are awaiting the views of NHS management and staff following Lord McCarthy's recent report.