Schedule 1 - Constitution of public benefit corporations

Part of Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 3:15 pm on 13 May 2003.

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Photo of Patsy Calton Patsy Calton Liberal Democrat, Cheadle 3:15, 13 May 2003

I am happy to do so if the hon. Gentleman will confine his remarks to when he is in an upright position. [Laughter.]

Amendments Nos. 175, 118 and 144 all attempt to deal with the same issue, which is that users of the facility should be permitted to be members of the constituency. That seems entirely right, although some people might take issue with aspects of it. However, I agree with amendment No. 175, which was tabled by the Liberal Democrats, that patients and carers ''shall'' be eligible. It could not be right for patients and carers to be ineligible, which is what the word ''may'' implies.

It is also right that family members who are significant carers should be involved, and it is right to limit the definition of a carer, in that those who are not paid or who are not from recognised voluntary organisations should not be counted as carers in this sense. I will reserve judgement on whether staff who are eligible for the staff constituency should not also be qualified as both geographical members of the area, either patient-qualified or carer-qualified. It is a great pity that someone should be prevented from acting in a certain way. They may be patients, they may be carers, and I think it is possible for someone—[Interruption.]