To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of patient and public involvement forums and the level of public engagement achieved by each trust. (92800)

There has been no formal evaluation of the effectiveness of the patient and public involvement forums. However, each year the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) produces a report detailing their activities and achievements. A copy of their report is available in the Library and on their website at:www.cppih.org/documents/AnnualReport 2006_000.pdf

As part of the annual health check, the process by which the Healthcare Commission assesses trust performance, each trust’s performance is assessed against ‘Standards for Better Health’, a copy of which is also available in the Library. Core standard 17 of those standards requires public engagement and consultation by all trusts.