§ Baroness Gould of Potternewtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
12WAWhether they believe that the Patient's Charter reflects patients' real priorities, and whether the improvements specified by the charter are adhered to.
§ Baroness CumberlegeThe contents of the revised and expanded Patient's Charter reflect the results of market research, which indicated that the public wanted the charter to dealinter alia with reduced waiting times, information about dental services and standards on mixed sex wards.
The Health Service Guidelines on implementing the charter standards, copies of which are available in the Library, explain the standards required. Rigorous monitoring of performance is undertaken locally through the contracting mechanism and, for key standards, centrally. Performance has improved consistently since publication of the charter, and the Government anticipate that the National Health Service Performance Tables, to be published on 4 July, will demonstrate further progress.