Current issues in Patient and Public Involvement

Briefing on Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill for Second Reading on 20th June 2007

Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill - Remaining Stages (17th and 22nd May 2007)

CPPIHs evidence to the Health Select Committee Inquiry into Patient and Public Involvement which began on 12st February 2007

Sharon Grant, Chair of CPPIH gives evidence to the Health Select Committee Inquiry into Patient and Public Involvement in Health

Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Health Services gives evidence to the Health Select Committee Inquiry

In response to a question on the funding of LINks (Qu411) the minister suggested that abolishing the CPPIH would free up £9million to be spent on the "front-line" . In a letter to the Committee Steve Lowden, CPPIH's Chief Executive responded to this claim, asserting that the true figure would be £1.5 million, as CPPIH currently provides many services centrally for PPI Forums, which would otherwise have to be provided locally. A copy of this letter is available here.

CPPIH Reponse to comments made by Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Health Services during the Health Select Committee Enquiry into PPI.

In giving her evidence the Minister asserted that by abolishing the CPPIH, £9 million would be available to the "front line" . However, this figure does not take into consideration the support and activities for Forums which are directly provided by CPPIH and its staff.

The Commission has estimated that the true central cost of CPPIH is currently approximately only £1.5m and that it is this figure that would be the total of "new money" available to the front line.

While the majority of services are provided locally through FSOs, it is sometimes more efficient or more consistent to provide services directly from the CPPIH.

The CPPIH analysis was based on looking at every role within our organisation and determining if it:

Relates directly to supporting forums e.g.administration of application and recruitment processes, learning and development , knowledge management, communications, governance and directly supports forum support e.g. performance managing FSOs etc. These could have alternatively been done by FSOs and are likely to need to move to LINk support organisations
Exists as a cost only because the CPPIH exists as an organisation e.g. HR, some of finance, some planning activities and Commissioners.

Health Select Committee report into PPI

CPPIH's comments on Health Committee Report into PPI

Second Reading of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill 22nd January 2007

CPPIH Second Reading Briefing

Briefing on visiting rights for Local Involvement Networks

Food watch is a national survey of hospital catering, carried out in over 90 hospitals across England by Patient and Public Involvement Forums. It found that despite a series of initiatives to improve standards, some institutions are still serving meals that patients are forced to leave because they are unappetising and, significant concern that patients are not being given help to eat their meals when they need it.

Results (PDF)

National summary (PDF)

CPPIH response to 'A Stronger Local Voice' - the Department of Health's proposals to replace patient and public involvement forums with Local Involvement Networks.

Our Health Our Care Our Say Health and Social Care White Paper
The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health's view.

The National Summary of Forum Annual Reports

CPPIH written submission to the House of Commons Health Select Committee Inquiry into NHS Deficits

Health Select Committee's Report 'Changes To Primary Care Trusts'

CPPIH Written Evidence to Health Select Committe Inquiry into Changes to Primary Care Trusts

Parliamentary News
Information for Forum Members on what is happening in Westminster in relation to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI), the Commission and public health issues. It contains information on current parliamentary debates, questions, Early Day Motions and announcements on PPI.

Patient-Led NHS
CPPIH brings together information on a number of Government policies relating to the modernisation of the National Health Service (NHS) and the Government's stated priority of creating more patient-focused provision. This topic covers Patient choice, PCT reconfiguration, Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Strategic Review and the 'Your health, your care, your say' consultation.