PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Health Services: Dorset (10 September 2015)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what grounds the Clinical Commissioning Group Senate for NHS South West prevent Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group submitting proposals for public consultation on healthcare provision in Dorset.

Asked by:
Sir Christopher Chope (Conservative)

We are advised by NHS England that the Dorset Clinical Services Review was considered by the Wessex Clinical Senate as part of the assurance process, with NHS England. The Clinical Senate has acknowledged the scope and volume of the work undertaken by the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to date, and welcomed the ambition to move care closer to patients’ homes.

The CCG made the decision to delay the public consultation after reviewing the range of evidence available to it, including findings from the Clinical Senate review, and will undertake further planning and analysis to help set out clearly to the public how it plans to realise its ambitions.

NHS England will undertake a standard assurance process prior to consultation to ensure proposals are robust, feasible, sustainable, and comply with the four key tests, which are that proposals should demonstrate: support from clinical commissioners; strengthened public and patient engagement; clarity on the clinical evidence base; and support for patient choice.

We are advised that the CCG plans to publically consult in 2016.

Answered by:
George Freeman (Conservative)
15 September 2015