§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his policy is on the election of nurses to the management boards of NHS hospitals; [111762]
(2) if he will make a statement on proposals that nurses be elected to NHS boards to participate more actively in the running of local hospitals. [112694]
§ Mr. HuttonSubject to parliamentary approval, the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will provide for applicants for national health service foundation trust status to determine the detail of their constitutional arrangements within the parameters set out in Schedule 1. It will be for each applicant to decide whether to include an executive nurse on the Board of Directors, taking account of its local circumstances and any responses to consultation on the proposals set out in its application.