Push for more public involvement in health services continues
The Government's commitment to increase patient involvement in the running of health services was reinforced last week in new guidance.
Primary care trusts (PCTs) in England will for the first time be required
to respond formally to public petitions if more than 1 per cent of the
local community are unhappy with a particular health service.
The guidance “Health
reform in England: update and commissioning framework”, published by the Department of Health, is the first
phase of a commissioning framework that focuses on the role of PCTs,
in partnership with practices, in the commissioning of hospital services.
The DoH is seeking views from the NHS, partner organisations and other
interested parties on several issues raised in the commissioning framework
document, including triggering community action, a practice-based commissioning
governance and accountability framework and contracting for NHS care.
Feedback or responses should be sent to nhs.reform@dh.gsi.gov.uk by 6
October.
The DoH has also published an information and consultation document called “A
stronger local voice: a framework for creating a stronger local voice
in the development of health and social care services”, which sets
out how existing patient and public involvement forums will be replaced
by local involvement networks (LINks).
LINks will cover an area, rather than be attached to a particular organisation,
and will have more power to influence services in both primary and secondary
care. Their membership will include user groups, local voluntary and
community sector organisations and interested individuals. |
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