§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether patients' forums will be set up before community health councils are abolished on 1 September 2003. [101580]
§ Mr. LammyPatients' forums will not be set up before community health councils are abolished. The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health is responsible for recruiting members and putting in place the support and infrastructure arrangements for patients' forums. This process will be well under way by 1 September 2003, and the Commission will be working towards the achievement of full coverage of forums by the end of the year.