§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources will be made available to health overview and scrutiny committees from funds previously allocated to community health councils. [106541]
§ Mr. LammyThe £23.5 million previously made available to fund Community Health Councils (CHCs) is contributing to the much wider programme of Government initiatives to support and strengthen patient and public involvement.
The functions of CHCs are being picked up by a range of mechanisms which include patient advice and liaison services, independent complaints advocacy services, patients forums, the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health and the scrutiny of health services by local authority overview and scrutiny committees. Overall the funding has increased substantially.
854WFunding to support local authority scrutiny of the national health services is currently being considered within the Department and an announcement will be made shortly.