§ Dr. StoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will define the role and terms of reference of the Commission for Health Improvement. [1410]
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§ Mr. HuttonThe role of the Commission is set out in section 20 of the Health Act 1999 and further defined in the Commission for Health Improvement (Functions) Regulations 2000. The main functions are
to provide advice or information to the National Health Service on clinical governance (clinical governance is a framework through which NHS organisations arc accountable for continuously improving the quality of clinical services and safeguarding high standards of care);to review and report on local clinical governance arrangements;to investigate and report on the management, provision or quality of healthcare for which NHS bodies have responsibility:to carry out national service reviews of particular types of healthcare.