§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the cost of printing and distributing the patients charter in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe cost of printing and distributing the patients charter for Wales to every household in Wales is £203,030.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many households in Wales are expected to receive the patients charter in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe patients charter for Wales will be sent to all households in Wales. Approximately 1,192,000 copies will be distributed.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the patients charter in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe patients charter for Wales was launched by my hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and myself on 28 October.
The patients charter for Wales is part of the Government's citizens charter initiative aimed at improving the standards of public services. The patients 556W charter aims to raise the standard of the NHS in Wales. It describes the rights of patients and the standards and guarantees which we expect health authorities to achieve.
It reiterates the Government's belief that there must be no change to the fundamental principles on which the NHS was founded and on which it has continued ever since, namely that services should be available to every citizen on the basis of clinical need, regardless of ability to pay, and that the service should mainly be paid for out of general taxation.
The patients charter builds on the aim of making the NHS in Wales a people-centred service. It complements the strategic intent and direction of the NHS in Wales and the all-Wales quality strategy.
The patients charter introduces a number of new measures.
From 1 April 1992 there will be a waiting times guarantee. Patients will be guaranteed admission for treatment by a specific date no later than two years from the day when they are placed on a waiting list. The great majority of patients will be admitted before their guaranteed date. Exceptionally for some treatments it may be necessary to set a date more than two years away. Health authorities or GPs will be responsible for ensuring that the guaranteed times are met, if necessary by offering treatment in an alternative hospital.
Charter standards have been set in several key areas of health care. These are waiting times for an emergency ambulance; waiting times in accident and emergency departments; cancellation of operations; named nurses, midwives and health visitors responsible for patients' care; arrangements for discharge from hospital; waiting times for out-patients.
These standards build on existing good practice. We are asking health authorities to set their own standards in these areas in the first instance, with the aim of meeting all the charter standards as soon as possible.
Local charters will be drawn up jointly by district health authorities and family health services authorities to tell people about the services available in their locality. Health authorities will publish waiting times for out-patient, day care and in-patient treatment by hospital, speciality and individual consultant.
Health authorities will publish standards of service agreed with hospitals and others who provide care. Health authorities will publish an annual report of achievement against local standards, and what action has been taken where necessary to improve performance. The Welsh Office will monitor authorities' performance against these standards.
Hospitals and other organisations which provide health care services will display a patients charter which will explain the main aspects of the service and the standards patients should receive. Details of an information service will be made available shortly.
The Department will be monitoring the performance of all those concerned with health care in these areas.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many copies of the patients charter in Wales have been printed; and if he will give the name and address of the printer.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettA total of 1,253,000 copies of the patients charter for Wales are being printed. An initial quantity of 3,000 copies was produced by Colibri Press Ltd. of Amhurst terrace, Hackney, London. The 557W production of the remainder was undertaken by Flair Printers of South Portway close, Round Spinney, Northampton. Contracts for printing and distribution were arranged for the Department by the Central Office of Information, in accordance with print procurement procedures.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales to whom the patients charter in Wales has been distributed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe patients charter for Wales has been distributed to health authorities, health professional groups, consumer groups, Members of Parliament and individual members of the public who have requested a copy. The charter will shortly be distributed to all households in Wales. Copies of the charter will also be made available from hospitals, surgeries and other information points.
The charter describes the rights, standards and guarantees which patients can expect from the NHS in Wales. It is important that every household is informed about these matters.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the cost of the public launch of the patients charter in Wales.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe cost of the launch of the patients charter for Wales was £1,352.