§ 21. Mr. Michael JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of performance indicators in the National Health Service.
§ Mrs. CurrieHealth Service indicators for 1986–87 were published in April of this year. At this time all district health authorities were asked to examine their indicators over the four years for which data have been available and to report to their members on progress in improving services, identifying major problems and the action being proposed to deal with those problems. Each district was asked to send a copy of its report to the local Member of Parliament. Performance is also featuring this year in review meetings between the Department and regional health authorities for which the latter were asked to present an analysis of their indicators. Regions are being asked about progress in reducing variations between their districts.
The Department commissioned an independent study carried out last year on the use being made of Health Service indicators by managers in the NHS. The findings were encouraging and showed a wide awareness of indicators among managers.