Oral Answers to Questions

Iain Stewart Excerpts

Tuesday 22nd November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lansley]

I will of course answer the question. The answer is that this is entirely driven by clinical issues in a local context. I can tell the hon. Lady that it is very much about trying to improve vascular services, and the judgments being made are local and clinical.

[Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South) (Con)]

T2. What leadership role do the Government expect the new health and wellbeing boards to play in determining significant NHS service changes in each local area?

[Mr Lansley]

The health and wellbeing boards will have a role not only in leading improvements in public health and social care but, through the joint strategic needs assessment and the strategy derived from that, in establishing how services should respond to the needs of the local population. The clinical commissioning group should respond directly to that, and any specific service configuration changes should form part of the commissioning plan. In addition, the local authority, through its scrutiny role, will have a continuing ability to refer those plans for review.