§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the purpose of the training conference organised by the National Association of Health Authorities and the National Health Service Training Authority on 24 September; what fees are to be paid to the speakers or the organisations they work for; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeIt is Government policy to develop awareness and expertise in customer relations in the National Health Service following the recommendations of the Griffiths report. It is important that there is a national focus for the subject and the National Association of Health Authorities and the National Health Service Training Authority are uniquely placed to ensure that this is provided by means of a national conference on customer relations.
The aims of the conference on 24 September are to provide those who attend with:
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- 1. An increased awareness of the importance and contribution made by good customer relations to the effective provision and management of patient care services.
- 2. An increased awareness of strategies and techniques used by enterprises inside and without the National Health Service to ensure that customer interests come first.
The conference will also launch a new joint NAHA and NHSTA publication "Customer relations training in the National Health Service 1986". I understand only one speaker is being paid a fee of £450 for advising on the design and organisation of the conference as well as speaking at it.