Ministers want local feedback

Two cabinet ministers have written to councils and health bodies
urging them to hold local consultations on the forthcoming health
and social care white paper.

Health secretary Patricia Hewitt and David Miliband, minister
for communities and local government, said the outcomes of local
consultations would “feed into development of policy for the white
paper”.

The Department of Health is holding several regional
consultation events on the white paper and a national conference on
29 October.

The white paper is expected by the end of the year although the
DH has announced no formal timetable for its publication.