HC Deb 23 January 1990 vol 165 c660W
30. Mr. Dunnachie

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to improve consumer involvement in the running of the National Health Service.

40. Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to improve consumer involvement in the running of the National Health Service.

92. Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to improve consumer involvement in the running of the National Health Service.

93. Mr. Stott

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to improve consumer involvement in the running of the National Health Service.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Government's proposals to improve the Health Service are based on a full recognition of the importance of the consumer of health care—the patient. Our proposals put patients first and give hospitals and their staff incentives to take account of the individual patient's needs. District health authorities will work closely with local interest groups and consider the views of users of services. Complaint procedures will be made easier. The interests of the local community will continue to be represented by community health councils, which will act as a channel for consumer views to health authorities and the family service authorities. The delegation of decision-making powers to hospital and GP level will ensure that local staff will have responsibility for responding to local needs. At least two non-executive members of each NHS hospital trust will be drawn from the local community. This all adds up to a package of measures designed to ensure that NHS consumers benefit from improved, better directed, more patient-responsive services.