Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that STPs will be required to provide evidence that they have consulted with the relevant partners and stakeholders before drawing up the STP Estate Strategy and any significant updates to such strategies.

National Health Service organisations are under a legal duty to consult local people and communities on proposals to make substantial changes to the services that they provide to patients. The Government has mandated four tests of service reconfiguration, one of which is for strong public and patient engagement. This must be evidenced as part of the business case approval process.

The Government’s response to the Naylor Review, published on 30 January 2018 is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/naylor-review-government-response

It sets a clear expectation that local NHS leaders should collaborate on planning across a sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) footprint and the development of estates and capital strategies. STP proposals have been published for every part of England and take account of estates strategies. These are works in progress and will evolve further to reflect the outcomes of local consultation.