§ 56. Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make more information available to patients about the performance of individual health authorities.
§ Mr. NewtonDistric health authorities are responsible for making information available to patients about the performance of local services. Specifically on in-patient and out-patient waiting times, we have asked authorities to draw up local statements of policy which will cover, inter alia, the provision of information to the public on these issues.
Health Service indicators, which are primarily an aid to management, are published annually by the Department for all health authorities in England. A copy is in the Library. Those for 1986–87 were published in April. Health authorities have been asked to carry out an analysis of trends in their indicators for the four years 1983–84 to 1986–87. A commentary will be given to authority members by the end of July, which will also be made available to hon. Members and to community health councils.
§ 108. Mr. EvennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to abolish regional health authorities.
§ Mr. MooreA number of options have been put forward for reforming the organisation of the NHS. We are looking carefully at these, but no conclusions have yet been reached.