§ Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what role was played by the Royal College of Nursing and other royal colleges in establishing the clinical standards advisory group; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of this group to the debate on health service reform.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe medical and nursing royal colleges were consulted on and fully supported the establishment of the clinical standards advisory group—CSAG—in 1991. All of the group's appointed members are nominated by the medical and nursing royal colleges in the manner prescribed by the CSAG Regulations (1991 No. 578). The group's first reports, on access to and availability of specialist services published in July, copies of which are available in the Library, made a positive and constructive contribution to discussions on how best to maintain and raise standards of clinical care for national health service patients. The group has just submitted its second report, on services for people with diabetes, which the United Kingdom Health Ministers will consider carefully and publish with their response early next year.