To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation with (a) all staff and (b) trade unions has taken place in primary care trusts on the transfer of community services; and if he will make a statement. (278159)

There were two meetings nationally with the trades union representatives of national health service staff about the “Transforming Community Services: Enabling new patterns of provision” guidance, which was published in January 2009. A copy has been placed in the Library. These meetings were held on 18 November and 8 December 2008, and comments and contributions from those present influenced significantly the content of the final guidance. The union representatives were a sub-group of members of the Social Partnership Forum, and they discussed the potential implications for NHS staff. NHS clinical staff and trade union representatives are also members of the board for the Transforming Community Services programme.

The six transformational practice guides (written principally for clinical team leaders), which are due to be published in June 2009, have also been co-produced with NHS staff.