§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will provide further guidance on local authority scrutiny of the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [141527]
§ Ms StuartGuidance on the scrutiny of the National Health Service by local authority overview and scrutiny committees will be issued following the passage of forthcoming legislation.
The legislation in this context is an amendment to the Local Government Act 2000; accordingly guidance will be issued to local authorities by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Concurrently, the Department will issue guidance to the NHS on its roles and responsibilities in relation to the new scrutiny arrangements.
The NHS will have a duty to provide information to local authority overview and scrutiny committees which will make reports and recommendations to health bodies based on the review of that information.
Chief executives will be required to attend scrutiny committee meetings to answer questions on the operation of the health services.
19WNHS bodies will also have a duty to consult with the scrutiny committees on major changes to health services.