Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, through what mechanism sustainability and transformation plans will be made accountable to their local communities.

Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPs) are not statutory organisations, but a new way for the National Health Service and local government to work together. The individual organisations that make up the STPs remain accountable to their local communities, including for these activities performed as part of the STP. When there are proposals to substantially change services, the STP has a duty to consult with their local community. There are longstanding rules to ensure this. NHS Improvement and NHS England are providing resources and guidance to further strengthen the local accountability of STPs, as the NHS and local government work together to develop sensible, deliverable plans.

Additionally, the Department and NHS England will shortly be publishing a STP dashboard and assessment of STP performance. Local communities can use this as a mechanism for holding the local NHS to account.