§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff will be employed by the Commission for Public Patient Involvement in Health at(a) national head office, (b) regional offices and (c) primary care trust level; and what their cost will be. [124308]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health intends to employ around 50 staff at its head office and up to 17 staff in each of its nine regional offices. It will not be directly employing staff at primary care trust level—rather it will be contracting with third party providers to support patients' forums locally. The total estimated cost for staff in the current financial year will be in the region of £5 million.