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Your Views on Health

 

Harlow Council is inviting residents to give their views on the Government’s proposals for the NHS.

 

The Council’s Scrutiny Committee is looking at the issues and opportunities for Harlow in the Government’s White Paper “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS”.

 

Proposals in the White Paper include:

 

• Putting patients first through greater choice, involvement and control.

 

• Transfer of public health responsibilities from Primary Care Trusts to local councils.

 

• Creation of a new Health Watch for England to be the national voice of patients and the public.

 

As part of the review a special meeting of the Scrutiny Committee is being held next Friday (17 September 2010) from 10am to 1pm in the Council Chamber. The public are invited to attend and speak at the meeting if they wish. Representatives from Princess Alexandra Hospital, the West Essex Primary Care Trust and the Essex and Southend Link will be attending to give their perspectives on the white paper.

 

Views can also be given to the Council by email to: scrutiny@harlow.gov.uk or by writing direct to: The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, c/o Viv Kelly, Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow, Essex CM20 1WG.

 

Views can be submitted up to 24 September 2010. The views gathered from the review will be used to respond to the Government’s consultation which ends on 5 October 2010.

 

Councillor Tony Durcan, Chairman of Harlow Council’s Scrutiny Committee, said: “The Scrutiny Committee has now got the opportunity to look at some of the wider issues affecting the town that are not in the Council’s direct control. The Health White Paper is one of those issues and we will be looking the opportunities and issues of proposals for Harlow. We want residents as well as local organisations who will be affected by the proposals to have their say and contribute to our review.”

 

Councillor Andrew Johnson, Leader of Harlow Council, said: “It’s important that the public participate in the scrutiny process so I would encourage them to give their views on the Health White Paper.”