§ Mr. MaplesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 February 1998,Official Report, column 552, in what ways NHS trusts will be obliged to co-operate with other trusts; and what sanctions will apply against those not complying with the new regulations. [31332]
§ Mr. MilburnOur changes will replace the former incentives for National Health Service trusts not to co-operate with each other, moving the emphasis from the competitive relationships and short-termism of the internal market to the development of stable longer-term partnerships focused on improving the health and health care of the local community.
NHS trusts will have new opportunities to shape local plans through the local health improvement programme, and will then be expected to play their agreed part in implementing these. In the rare event that an NHS trust failed to play its proper part in this, paragraph 6.20 of "The New NHS" sets out a graduated range of possible sanctions.
We shall bring forward detailed proposals for the revised legislative framework to support these changes, including the new statutory duty of partnership, in due course.