Hospitals

(asked on 26th June 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on the implementation of proposed reconfigurations of hospital services by clinical commissioning groups and Trusts where such proposals (a) have been referred to him and (b) are subject to a judicial review.


Answered by
Steve Barclay Portrait
Steve Barclay
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
This question was answered on 4th July 2018

Decisions about reconfigurations are properly for the local National Health Service to take, informed by local stakeholders.

NHS England has produced a guide for those considering, and involved in, substantial service change to navigate a clear path from inception to implementation. It is intended to support commissioners and providers to consider how to take forward their proposals, including effective public involvement, enabling them to reach robust decisions on change in the best interests of their patients, and can be found at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/planning-assuring-and-delivering-service-change-for-patients/

The Department also produces guidance on local oversight and scrutiny, which explains the regulations and policy background for the scrutiny of local health services, and which can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-to-local-authorities-on-scrutinising-health-services

Some such proposals do go through the judicial review process, and in those cases participants will need to follow the judgement of the Court in their own particular case.

Proposals can also be referred to the Secretary of State, under the oversight and scrutiny arrangements. Each case is considered on its merits, and that process determines any conclusions that may be made. Participants in such cases are expected to put those conclusions into practice.

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