§ Ms. Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to monitor standards and service delivery in the national health service; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyPatients charter and general standards of service are monitored at local level by district health authorities, general practitioner fund holders and family health service authorities. Regional health authorities take an overview of services in their regions and are accountable to the national health service management executive.
All regional health authorities have established programmes of medical audit—covering both primary and secondary care—and are now extending this into wider areas including nursing audit. In addition, the clinical standards advisory group has been set up under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 to advise United Kingdom Health Ministers on specific issues.