§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish guidelines on how hon. Members should deal with constituency inquiries and complaints relating to a hospital trust; what changes he envisages from the arrangements prior to such hospitals becoming trusts; what rights of appeal are open to hon. Members who are dissatisfied with the initial responses; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIt remains the responsibility of health boards to determine the health needs of those in their area, to secure services to meet those needs and to monitor the services provided. Inquiries on these issues should be raised with the health board concerned. Issues about specific services being provided by a trust should be raised with the chairman of the trust. While my right hon. Friend will continue to exercise close scrutiny of the NHS in Scotland through the management executive, we are confident that chairmen of both health boards and trusts will endeavour to be as helpful as possible to hon. Members with whom, I am sure, they will want to foster good relations. I hope this will be reciprocated.