§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 10 December 2003,Official Report, column 502W, on departmental staff, what information his Department collates on the functions undertaken by staff in each business group. [158496]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonIn summary, the work of Departmental staff in the three business groups includes
1452WDelivery—staff responsible for supporting delivery of targets set out in the NHS Plan. These include helping reduce waiting times, increasing choice for National Health Service patients, securing resources for NHS and local government organisations, ensuring the NHS has the capacity to deliver and integrating NHS information technology systems to deliver modernised patient services.Standards and Quality—staff responsible for the majority of our policy-making responsibilities, ranging from scientific developments and medical innovations, such as stem cell research, to lifestyle issues, such as obesity. Staff set standards and define quality in health and social care services, maintain and promote health and well being, ensure safety of patients and users and deliver key programmes, such as cancer.Strategy and Business Development—staff responsible for important corporate services, such as communications, corporate human resources and information services, ensuring the Department is run effectively and efficiently. They also lead important programmes and policies, such as system reform, equality, medicine and pharmacy, user experience and involvement and professional leadership.