Nhs Reform 20. Rev. Martin Smyth To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance has been given to health and social service boards in the purchase of services under the proposed National Health Service reforms. Mr. Needham Since "Working for Patients" was published there has been a continual flow of information to boards about the purchase of services. The main guidance has been Northern Ireland working paper No. 2, a paper on purchasers and providers published last November and a paper on the operational principles of contracting published in February.