HC Deb 08 November 2000 vol 356 cc266-7W
Mr. Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans to replace community health councils. [136996]

Ms Stuart

The National Health Service Plan sets out the new structures which will be set in place to extend and increase patient and citizen empowerment across all sectors of NHS. Chapter 10 of the NHS Plan announced the establishment of a Patient Advocacy and Liaison Service in every trust. At the moment we are conducting a major exercise to take the views of stakeholder groups nationally and locally on the specific details of how the new arrangements will be set up and co-ordinated in practice. The results of this exercise will be disseminated in the New Year.