Local and national policies

Our local policy of involving the public:

NHS Norfolk’s Patient and Public Involvement commitments

Section 242 of the Consolidated NHS Act 2006 (previously Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001) places a duty on the PCT to make arrangements to involve and consult patients and the public in service planning and operation, and in the development of proposals for changes. This is a statutory duty, which means consulting and involving:

• not just when a major change is proposed, but in ongoing service planning
• not just in the consideration of a proposal, but in the development of that proposal; and
• in decisions about general service delivery, not just major changes.

More information can be found here at the Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_081089

In addition, Section Seven of the same Act gave Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees (HOSCs) - set up in local authorities with social services responsibilities (including county councils and unitary authorities) - the power to scrutinise health services. HOSCs:

• take on the role of scrutiny of the NHS - not just major changes but the ongoing operation and planning of services;
• are able to refer contested service changes to the Secretary of State;
• are able to call NHS managers to give information about services and decisions;
• report their recommendations locally;
• have to be consulted by the NHS where there are to be major changes to health services.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007

This Act introduces the establishment of Local Involvement Networks (LINks), which replace Patient and Public Involvement Forums (PPIF), and the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health in 2008. The bill also clarifies and strengthens the existing duty on NHS bodies, such as NHS Norfolk, to involve and consult patients and the public in the planning and provision of services.

More information can be found here at the Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsLegislation/DH_076445  

Further LINks information can be found here.

Communications, marketing and engagement strategy 2009-2014

Communications, marketing and engagement strategy 2009-2014

On other websites:

Your Norfolk, Your Say website
Department of Health: Consultation section
The national Expert Patients Programme website
Department of Health website: A stronger local voice