Clause 4 - Application by NHS trusts

Part of Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:45 pm on 20 May 2003.

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Photo of John Hutton John Hutton Minister of State, Department of Health, Minister of State (Department of Health) (Health) 4:45, 20 May 2003

There is absolutely nothing in the Bill that makes the ''Keeping the NHS Local'' strategy impossible to deliver. Service reconfiguration will be dealt with in the way that already applies to non-NHS-foundation trusts and, under the Bill, service reconfigurations will need to go through the oversight and scrutiny committees of the local authorities and then be referred up to the regulator for him to decide. In the process, the independent regulator can refer such a decision to the independent reconfigurations panel, which will consider the guidance and ''Keeping the NHS Local'' in coming to a view.