HC Deb 14 October 2002 vol 390 cc513-4W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information and guidance he issues to strategic health authorities, NHS trusts and primary care trusts about involving the public in Local Consultations on the provision of health care and social services; and what plans he has to develop this. [72192]

Mr. Lammy

[holding answer 23 July 2002]Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 places a duty on National Health Service Trusts, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Authorities (StHAs) to make arrangements to involve and consult patients and the public in planning of service provision, involvement in the development of proposals for changes and involvement in decisions about changes to the operation of services.

Currently, work is in progress to develop guidance to support NHS organisations deliver this new requirement. The draft guidance is being developed and overseen by a reference group including representatives from: the local government association, the NHS confederation, Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales (ACHCEW), the society of community health councils staff, cancer link. Wolverhampton CVS, NHS leadership centre. directorates of health and social care, NHS Estates. general practitioners, PCTs and StHAs. In addition, many NHS organisations have contributed to the development of the draft document by providing examples of good practice and commenting on a recent draft version—to ensure that the final document enables effective policy development and a range of involvement strategies.

We also intend one of the key initial NHS demonstrators for fulfilling section 11 requirements will be for all NHS organisations to be signed up to, and working within, a geographically relevant local compact. The voluntary and community sector also have a key role to play in working with their local NHS organisations to enable as many people as possible to become involved in local NHS decision making processes to help ensure that patient and the public are at the centre of NHS decision making.