§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements are imposed on district health authorities, regional health authorities, and health service trusts, to hold meetings in public of the main governing body, any committees, and any sub-committees; and what rights of access the public have to agendas, minutes, and reports of such bodies, committees and sub-committees.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe meetings of regional health authorities, district health authorities and family health services authorities are governed by the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960. This requires any full meeting of the authority, at which approval for a specific action is required, to be open to the public. But the public may be excluded from the whole or part of a meeting when1010W confidential business is to be discussed. The provisions of the 1960 Act do not apply to committees or sub-committees of authorities, but committees comprising the full membership of the authority must meet in public unless a resolution to exclude the press and public is passed. The 1960 Act also requires authorities to supply the press, on request, with a copy of the agenda for each full meeting.
National health service trusts, and their committees or sub-committees, are not subject to the 1960 Act. Trusts are required to have one public meeting per year, in accordance with the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. Many NHS trusts have developed substantial programmes of public meetings and regular meetings with community health councils.
NHS trusts are required to publish annual reports, business plans and accounts. Regional health authorities, district health authorities and family health services authorities are not required to do so, but many publish annual reports, and their audited accounts are publicly available on request.