§ 23. Mr. WolfsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken to improve the provision of information on health matters for NHS patients and the wider public.
§ Mr. MaloneThe patients charter sets out the right of every citizen to be given information on local health services, including quality standards and maximum waiting times. In January 1993, a national freephone health information service was launched which puts callers in contact with their local regional health information services. The service can be contacted free of charge on 0800 665544. It provides information in confidence about local national health services; patients430W charter standards and waiting times; common diseases, conditions and treatments, including details of self-help groups; how to complain about NHS services; and how to maintain and improve personal health. Health authorities produce annual reports for the public on hospitals' patients charter performance, and hospitals publicly display information to patients about their services, including their own patients charter performance, and a named person to whom complaints should be made. In June 1994, the first set of annual NHS comparative performance tables were published, showing the public how their local health services were performing under six main headings based upon patients charter information.
In addition, NHS trusts are required to publish an annual report and accounts, which includes information about the principal activities of the trust together with details of any activities in research and development with a comparison with that of the previous year. Recent measures have been taken to increase the information published in this document and from 1994–95, the report will include information on the trusts performance against a number of local-national patients charter standards.