Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 110 of the NHS Long Term Plan, what steps he will take to ensure those responsible for developing Local Plans will consult with relevant stakeholders when designing them; and if he will make a statement.

The National Implementation Framework, to be published in the spring, will provide further information on how the NHS Long Term Plan will be delivered. As local areas begin to develop their implementation plans staff, patients, the public and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to help local organisations determine what the NHS Long Term Plan means for their area, and how services need to adapt and improve in the short and medium term.

NHS England is asking local health systems to start this engagement soon and expect local politicians to have an opportunity to be involved in this, as well as other local stakeholders, local partners, communities, service users and patients.

Nationally, the National Health Service is working with Healthwatch England and the Voluntary and Community Sector Health and Wellbeing Alliance to provide additional support to local systems in their engagement with local communities.