Oral Answers to Questions

Alec Shelbrooke Excerpts

Tuesday 18th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Paul Burstow]

My hon. Friend is right to raise the issue of ensuring sufficient awareness of the pathways that exist for people to gain access to those services. I understand that the east midlands specialised commissioning group has recently carried out a review of non-invasive ventilation services. I shall ask the group to write to him in more detail.

[Alec Shelbrooke (Elmet and Rothwell) (Con)]

12. What steps he is taking to assist patients to access a greater range of NHS services.

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Mr Simon Burns)]

The NHS constitution gives patients the right to make choices about their care. The Government are committed to empowering patients. Our goal is for patients to have more choice of treatment.

[Alec Shelbrooke]

What steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that my constituents requiring cardiac services will have access to the care that they need in Leeds?

[Mr Burns]

My hon. Friend raises an important and controversial issue, as he will have heard when listening to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State earlier and the debates that he has attended in the House on this subject. We are determined that proper facilities will be made available, based not on money but on the high quality of care, particularly for children. An independent review is being carried out by the joint committee of primary care trusts, which is expected to announce its recommendations later this year.