§ Laura MoffattTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department is making of the efficacy of public and community involvement in local reviews of NHS services. [30793]
§ Ms BlearsSubject to the passage and subsequent enactment of section 19 of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Bill, the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will make an independent assessment of the efficacy of public and community involvement in local reviews through it's work with patients' forums and overview and scrutiny committees. These data will be collected locally by the commission and fed to Government via the commission's headquarters.
A prime example of the involvement of local people in determining the future of their health services occurred in my hon. Friend's constituency. It was agreed, after strong views were expressed by Crawley residents, that a review of the future provision of health care in South East Surrey and North West Sussex would take place. This review will involve local stakeholders in seeking agreement on a configuration which will ensure appropriate local access and meet the requirement for high quality, professional care.