DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 30 October 2008
The Department of
Health today urged Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to engage better
with patients and the public in developing plans and making
decisions about local health services.
New guidance, published today, will help the public have more say
in decisions made by their PCT, enabling them to shape local
health services.
The strengthened 'Duty to Involve' guidance will also
make feedback on public consultations more transparent and accessible.
This follows on from Lord Darzi's review of the NHS earlier
this year in which he recommended that any changes to NHS services
should be transparent, locally-led and for the benefit of patients.
Today's guidance 'Real Involvement' is being
issued to help PCTs and other NHS organisations understand changes
to the Duty, and also to offer practical advice on how to put
local people at the heart of service changes.
Increased patient involvement will enable local NHS organisations
to put patients' wishes first and give staff the freedom to
respond and deliver safer, more personalised care. Developing NHS
services in partnership with the public and staff plays an
important role in creating a modern NHS which meets the changing
needs of the population both nationally and locally.
Health Minister Ann Keen said,
"Feedback from patients is one of the most powerful tools
available to the NHS to help improve services which is why the
Duty to Involve has been strengthened. The NHS is a public service
so it is only right that the public should have their say on how
the service is shaped.
"Helping local NHS organisations to understand and act upon
the Duty is essential to making the most of this feedback which is
why we have produced this guidance to help them involve patients effectively."
The new Duty to Involve is also expected to be included in the
NHS Constitution due to come into force next year. The Duty will
take effect next month but will be included as one of the existing
rights set out in the Constitution - to make it easy for patients
to find all their rights in one place. The Duty is one of several
ways the public can have their say on NHS services including Local
Involvement Networks, the Patient Liaison Service and complaints
channels and feedback is always encouraged to make sure services
are meeting patients' needs.
The guidance will be published on the Department of Health
website and letters will be sent to chief executives across the
NHS to raise awareness of the changes to the Duty. Materials such
as leaflets and presentations will also be provided to help spread
the guidance through local NHS organisations and regional
briefings will be provided to help with understanding and
implementing the guidance.
Notes to editors:
1. For further information please contact
the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5221
2. The Duty to involve was first introduced in 2003 in response
to members of the public who were interested in having more say
over their local NHS.
3. 'Real Involvement' can be downloaded from : http://www.dh.gov.uk/publications
4. The strengthened Duty to Involve came from the Local
Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
5. Case studies of best practice in the Duty to Involve are
available on request