§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the key indicators are against which strategic health authorities will be monitored; and if he will make a statement on the consequences for these organisations of failing to meet these key indicators. [159778]
§ Mr. HuttonStrategic health authorities (SHAs) are the local headquarters of the national health service and they are responsible for local delivery of the national Planning and Priorities Framework 2003–06. The Planning and Priorities Framework sets out the objectives and targets for the NHS.
Each SHA has produced a local delivery plan, which sets out the local health communities' planned progress towards delivery of the national objectives and targets. The Department assesses SHAs' performance against the local delivery plan.