Clause 10 - Register of NHS foundation trusts

Part of Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:30 am on 22 May 2003.

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Photo of Hazel Blears Hazel Blears Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health) 10:30, 22 May 2003

I am delighted to welcome the points made by my hon. Friends the Members for West Bromwich, West and for Harrow, West. Both have extensive experience in the mutual movement, and I am sure that they can usefully and constructively inform our principles and practice in the matter. That will be crucial. My hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West has, this year, done a magnificent job as president of the Co-operative Congress and has made a useful contribution.

By establishing NHS foundation trusts, the Government are trying to create a new system of democratic involvement. We are progressing from consultation and engagement into direct elections, and that is a significant move. We have made it clear that we want the process to be as inclusive as possible, and my hon. Friends the Members for West Bromwich,

West and for Harrow, West referred to hard-to-reach groups, as did the hon. Member for Cheadle. I sometimes take issue with that phrase; if we engage in relevant issues, people will respond. People are sometimes hard to reach because we do not speak a language that they understand or because the issues are not close to their concerns. However, if local people have a real stake in an issue, they will respond and will want to participate, even if there are difficulties with mobility or language. I accept the points about ensuring that we support people with transport and translation of material, and that everything is as accessible as possible.

That is why we are determined to learn from the various groups involved. We have mentioned the external reference group, which comprises people from mutuals, from the Economics Foundation, and people from universities who are experts in drawing different groups into public involvement. Moreover, we have the experience of the Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-op, which has a magnificent record on increasing active membership and which has made great strides in recent years. We can learn from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the National Trust, each of which has an active and thriving membership. We should not rule out help from any sector.

We do not do this simply because it is the right thing to do. Hon. Members will recall the Wanless report on funding for the long-term future of the health service. In one of the report's scenarios, the public would be fully engaged in influencing health care, taking more responsibility for their own health and using technology to do so. Wanless saw that as the way to make our services much more responsive and to prevent the enormous rise in the cost of health care. Therefore, not only is it the right thing to do, it makes economic sense.

The amendments support the recommendation in the Select Committee on Health's report that foundation trusts should proactively attempt to extend registration to achieve real and representative community engagement. I agree with the Health Committee's sentiments and with the principles of the amendments tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, West. The difficulty is that, as drafted, the amendments simply require reports to be presented; there is no corresponding duty on NHS foundation trusts to carry out active membership work. The effect desired by my hon. Friend would, therefore, not be achieved.

I am more than happy to consider these issues further and, if necessary, to make further proposals.