§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations his Department has received concerning the effectiveness of the Cancer Care Action Group in identifying and implementing improvements to the quality of care for patients; [75748]
(2) if he will list the members of the Cancer Care Action Group and the organisations that they represent. [75747]
120W
§ Ms BlearsThe Cancer Care Action Group was established in 1998 after the Caring for Cancer conference, which brought together statutory and voluntary organisations involved in caring for those with cancer. Following the publication of the NHS Cancer Plan, the group was replaced by a supportive and palliative care strategy co-rdinating group.
The Supportive and Palliative Care Strategy Group membership comprises representatives from the Department of Health, the national health service, the National Council for Hospices and specialist palliative care services, Macmillan Cancer Relief, CancerBACUP, National Cancer Alliance, Marie Curie Cancer Care and voluntary hospices.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health through what mechanisms staff of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, deployed to patient forums, will be accountable to those forums and their local communities. [77425]
§ Mr. LammyStaff will be provided by the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health to primary care trust patients' forums to support the members of patients' forums in their work. The work programme of the staff will be set by the patients' forum members. Therefore, while staff will be employed by the Commission on a day to day basis, they will be accountable to the patients' forum to which they are attached. It is for the Commission to decide exactly how this dual accountability will be managed and ensured.