HL Deb 17 March 2005 vol 670 cc60-2WS
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner)

My honourable friend the Minister of State (Ms Rosie Winterton) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement today.

The Government have today published their response to the recent consultation exercise on the future support arrangements for patient and public involvement in health.

The main features of the response include

combining patients' forums in primary care trust areas into single forums but not reducing the number of forum members;

requiring forums to have chairs who will be appointed by the NHS Appointments Commission. These appointments will be made with the full involvement of forum members; and

the development of a national resource centre in patient and public involvement that will assist both the NHS and patients' forums in their respective responsibilities in relation to patient and public involvement.

Copies have been placed in the Library.

Copies of the consultation findings as well as the Government's response are also available on the department's website.