Written question asked by Tony Baldry (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 July 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 July 2007. It was answered by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 July 2007 on behalf of the Department of Health.

NHS Next Stage Review

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his oral statement of 4 July 2007, Official Report, columns 91-3, on NHS next stage review, if he will refer the decision to the Oxfordshire Radcliffe NHS Trust to reconfigure services at the Horton General hospital in Banbury, referred to him by the Oxfordshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to the independent reconfiguration panel.

Answer: [holding answer 23 July 2007]: The oral statement of 4 July clearly stated that while Lord Darzi is undertaking his wide-ranging review of the NHS, the Secretary of State will, as a matter of course, ask the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) for advice on any decisions made at a local level which have been referred by Overview and Scrutiny Committees.As of 17 July 2007, a letter of referral from Oxfordshire Overview and Scrutiny Committee has not been received by the Department. Should such a referral be forthcoming, we would expect to seek the advice of the IRP on the case.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 151599; 463 c1233W
Session: 2006-07
Related items: NHS Next Stage Review
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: Health services Oxfordshire
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk