§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS therapists for children with disabilities in mainstream schools have been recruited in the last three years; how many additional training places for such NHS therapists have been created in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [I70607]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation is not specifically available on the number of therapists for children with disabilities that have been recruited to the national health service. The tables show the number of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists employed in the NHS and entering training each year.
Between September 2000 and 2003, the number of speech and language therapists employed in the NHS has increased by 15 per cent. Physiotherapists have increased by 15 per cent., and occupational therapists by 17 per cent.. The Government is also increasing the number of students entering training each year; since 1999–2000, training places in speech and language therapy have increased by 31 per cent., in occupational therapy by 44 per cent., and by 60 per cent., in physiotherapy.
§ Ms Rosie WintertonCommunity health councils had a general duty to represent the interests of the public in the health service. The new system of patient and public involvement is a much broader structure with a range of specific features.
The new system comprises on the spot support for patients through patient advice and liaison services (PALS), independent support for complainants through the independent complaints advocacy service (ICAS), the powers to scrutinise health services by overview and scrutiny committees of local authorities, and a duty on the national health service to involve and consult patients and the public in the planning and development of services.
465WOn top of these arrangements there are also 572 independent patients' forums with a clear remit to monitor local NHS services, obtain the views of patients using those services and feed those views into local decision-making.
The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, the independent body responsible for supporting, advising on and monitoring the work of forums will also be responsible for reviewing how effectively forums have been in carrying out their responsibilities. It is also responsible for ensuring that appropriate and high quality support is provided to forums by the forum support organisations—it does this through rigorous contract and performance management arrangements.