§ Mr. Kevan JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Darzi Review recommendations on health care in County Durham. [144868]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe proposals arising from the Darzi Review were referred to Ministers by the former South Durham and Weardale Community Health Council. These were subsequently approved for implementation in September 2002. To support the new model, the two trusts responsible for the management of the hospitals in Co. Durham and Darlington merged to form the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust, with effect from 1 October 2002.
County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority is overseeing the process of implementation of the proposals, which cover a wide range of services. The chief executive of the SHA wrote recently to all local right hon. and hon. Members informing them of progress on the review and a copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.