HC Deb 20 January 2004 vol 416 cc1108-9W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to require independent diagnostic and treatment centres to have patients' forums. [148680]

Ms Rosie Winterton

There are no plans to require independent treatment centres to have patients' forums. The patients forums set up for primary care trusts (PCTs) that commission services from independent treatment centres can monitor and review services that the treatment centre provides, as well as carry out their other functions in relation to them. Directions issued to PCTs on 27 November 2003 require PCTs to ensure that contracts they place with all independent sector providers includes provisions thatrequire those providers to allow entry to patients' forums to enter and inspect premises where those services are provided; and require those providers to give information in relation to those services to patients' forums when requested.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rights of access to(a) people, (b) papers and (c) premises (i) overview and scrutiny committees and (ii) primary care trust patient forums will have in respect of independent diagnostic and treatment centres operating within their area. [148679]

Ms Rosie Winterton

[holding answer 19 January 2004]In relation to the operation of independent treatment centres, overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) do not have rights of access to people, papers or premises of independent treatment centres. OSCs that want to scrutinise independent services should do so via the primary care trust (PCT) that commissioned the services.

Patients' forums have a right to enter and inspect independent premises and the right to information only if the contract between the PCT and the provider is compliant with directions issued to PCTs last November. These directions require PCTs to ensure that contracts they place with all independent sector providers include provisions that require those providers to allow entry to patients' forums to enter and inspect premises where those services are provided and require those providers to give information in relation to those services to patients' forums when requested.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how public-patient involvement will be delivered for independent diagnostic and treatment centres. [148682]

Ms Rosie Winterton

[holding answer 19 January 2004]Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for ensuring that section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001—the duty to involve and consult patients and the public—is complied with when making arrangements for another organisation, person or people to provide services. This includes independent treatment centres (ITCs).

PCT patients' forums have powers to monitor and review the services provided by ITCs. Contracts between PCTs and ITCs will include a requirement to allow PCT patients' forums to enter the premises of ITCs.

Local authority overview and scrutiny committees with the power to review the planning, provision and operation of services will be able to use those powers in relation to ITCs, through the scrutiny of those PCTs which contract with ITCs.