§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will include in the new code on openness in the NHS a requirement for NHS trusts to hold their meetings in public and for health authorities to stop the practice of routinely closing their meetings to the public for significant parts of their agendas for items which are not confidential. [22731]
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§ Mr. MaloneIt is already a requirement that national health service trusts must hold an annual public meeting. The code of practice on openness in the NHS, published in April 1995, points to holding more public meetings as good practice, in line with the steps already being taken by an increasing number of trusts.
Health authorities must hold all their board meetings in public, though there is a provision for certain issues to be taken in a private part of the meeting. Whether and when to exclude the press and public is a matter for authorities themselves to decide.