§ Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he is making in his consideration of the Griffiths report on National Health Service management.
§ Mr. FowlerI am today announcing the Government's decisions on carrying forward the recommendations of the NHS management inquiry (Griffiths) report as they affect England and am writing to chairmen of Health Authorities to set in hand the necessary action. When I announced the publication of the report to the House on 25 October last year, I said that the Government welcomed its main thrust. After wide consultation with health authorities and with professional and other representative organisations, and taking account of the views expressed in the Social Services Committee report and in the debates in both Houses, the Government have decided to establish the general management function in health authorities in England. We regard this as the key to ensuring that the structure we introduced in 1982 can work effectively to produce the improvement in the delivery of services at local level that the Government regard as their overriding objective.
The guidance I am giving health authorities today requires them to start work straight away to establish the general management function and to identify individual general managers at authority and unit levels. The circular provides flexibility to take account of local circumstances. It requires regional authorities to make their proposals to me by the end of September, but allows district authorities until the end of 1985 to complete action at unit level. I will be ensuring that authorities implement the arrangements in accordance with the specific requirements of the guidance circular. In addition, the whole process will be monitored through the accountability review process. I have arranged for copies of the guidance circular to be placed in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. I have also sent copies to the Social Services Committee 26W and shall in addition be writing shortly to the Chairman to reply to the specific recommendations made in their Report.