Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 17 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 November 2003. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Thursday, 20 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the (a) number and (b) rate of vacancies within patients' forums on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on progress to meet the minimum number of staff in each patients' forum. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the (a) number and (b) rate of vacancies within patients' forums on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on progress to meet the minimum number of staff in each patients' forum. [139863] Ms Rosie Winterton: As at 19 November 2003 the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) had received 4,254 applications from people to fill the 4,018 patients' forum places available for 1 December 2003. This is the total for the minimum number of seven members needed for all 574 forums in England. Inevitably some forums have attracted greater interest than others. However, CPPIH is still recruiting and applications are being received throughout the country on a daily basis. Patients' forums cannot employ staff because they are unincorporated organisations. However arrangements have been in place since September for each patients' forum to receive staff support from local network providers.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 413 c1409W;413 c1405W; 139863
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Applications Health professions Recruitment Vacancies Patients' forums
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk