§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to announce his funding plans for the ACHCEW for the remainder of its term. [77429]
§ Mr. LammyThe date of abolition for the Association of Community Health Councils of England and Wales (ACHCEW) is yet to be determined. Officials will be discussing with ACHCEW the best way of funding the remainder of its term once that decision has been made.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the ability of(a) community health councils and (b) the ACHCEW to retain staff of (i) the absence of a date for abolition, (ii) the decision not to allow community health council staff to transfer to the successor bodies and (iii) the absence of committed funding for the remainder of their term of employment. [77430].
§ Mr. LammyThe Department is aware of the concerns of Community Health Councils (CHCs) following the announcement that they are to be abolished. There will be no automatic transfers into the new Commission either for CHC or Association of Community Health Councils of England and Wales (ACHCEW) staff. The Commission is independent and fundamentally different from CHCs. As such it must be free to make its own decisions on staffing. Officials are826W working with trade unions to agree a human resources framework to support CHC staff in seeking suitable alternative employment. Progress is being reported through newsletters to CHC staff. CHCs will be abolished once the new system is functioning. The date of abolition for CHCs and ACHCEW has yet to be decided but we will make an announcement as soon as a date has been set. In the meantime the 184 HCs continue to function and will be funded until their abolition.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what timetable has been set for the winding up of(a) community health councils and (b) the ACHCEW. [77428]
§ Mr. LammyCommunity health councils (CHCs) will be abolished once the new arrangements for patient and public involvement are functioning. There is no abolition date for CHCs or the Association of Community Health Councils of England and Wales as yet, but we will make an announcement as soon as a date is set.
§ Ms DrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when Community Health Councils will be abolished; and what support is being given to staff of CHCs in the transition to new arrangements. [78148]
§ Mr. LammyCommunity Health Councils (CHCs) will be abolished once the new arrangements for patient and public involvement are functioning. There is no abolition date for CHCs or Association of Community Health Councils of England and Wales as yet, but we will make an announcement as soon as a date is set. Officials are working with trade unions to agree a human resources framework to support CHC staff in seeking suitable alternative employment.