Background
3.The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act gives effect to the Government's proposals for reform of the local government system in England and for reform of the current arrangements for patient and public involvement in the provision of health and social care services. It also gives effect to a commitment to expand the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales (“the Assembly”) in the field of local government.
4.In July 2004 an initial discussion document 'The future of local government – developing a 10 year vision' was published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now known as the Department for Communities and Local Government) to launch the debate on the future of local government between central government, local government and other stakeholders under the heading local:vision. Between July 2004 and February 2006 numerous documents under the local:vision heading were published setting out ideas for discussion and consultation.
5.The Local Government White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’, published on 26th October 2006, was a response to the local:vision consultation. This Act follows from that White Paper.
6.The Department of Health instigated a review of patient and public involvement in the provision of health services in August 2005. In January 2006 the Department published the White Paper ‘Our health, our say, our care: a new direction for community services”. Following publication of the White Paper, an Expert Panel was established in February 2006 in order to consider the evidence that had been gathered. The Expert Panel published its findings in July 2006.
7.On 13th July 2006 the Department of Health published the consultation document ‘A Stronger Local Voice’ setting out the proposed changes. Since then there have been extensive discussions with stakeholders.