Written question asked by Stephen Hesford (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 October 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 October 1998. It was answered by Alan Milburn (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 October 1998 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what are the main criteria for the establishment of health improvement programmes; and what progress has been made in the establishment of such programmes. - Including ref to Health Service Circular 1998/167 Local Authority Circular (98)23: Health Improvement Programmes: Planning for Better Health and Better Health Care, (in Library).

Answer: Mr. Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the main criteria for the establishment of health improvement programmes; and what progress has been made in the establishment of such programmes. [56652] Mr. Milburn: Health improvement programmes will be the local strategies for improving health and health care. Health authorities have lead responsibility for their development. They will be expected to do this through a fully inclusive process, engaging primary care groups, National Health Service trusts, local authorities, the voluntary sector, local employers and others, users, carers and local communities. Full guidance on the new arrangements has been issued in Health Service Circular 1998/167 Local Authority Circular (98)23: "Health Improvement Programmes: Planning for Better Health and Better Health Care". Copies are available in the Library. The first health improvement programmes (HImPs) are to cover the three year period beginning April 1999. They are to be developed through a rolling programme and the first HImPs will need to include plans for their future development.

Secondary information