Yesterday's announcement that all 302 Primary Care Trusts in England will be abolished by 2013 with more power given to GPs represents a complete about-turn from the Coalition Agreement of less than two months ago.
Yesterday’s announcement that all 302 152 Primary Care Trusts in England will be abolished by 2013 with more power given to GPs represents a complete about-turn from the Coalition Agreement of less than two months ago, which promised directly elected patient representatives on PCT boards and pledged that local PCTs “will act as a champion for patients”, commissioning services best undertaken at a wider level “rather than directly by GPs”.
The agreement, pages 24-25, clearly states:
• We will ensure that there is a stronger voice for patients locally through directly elected individuals on the boards of their local primary care trust (PCT).
The remainder of the PCT’s board will be appointed by the relevant local authority or authorities, and the Chief Executive and principal officers will be appointed by the Secretary of State on the advice of the new independent NHS board. This will ensure the right balance between locally accountable individuals and technical expertise.
• The local PCT will act as a champion for patients and commission those residual services that are best undertaken at a wider level, rather than directly by GPs.
It will also take responsibility for improving public health for people in their area, working closely with the local authority.
At no point does it mention their abolition, but quite the opposite, namely that PCTs would be stregthened and democartised. Now, they are in fact going to be split up between councils and GPs – yet even the supposed accountability to local councils isn’t fully democratic, as they will also be answerable to a national body.
Earlier today, Left Foot Forward looked in detail at the health secretary’s white paper, highlighting one of the most fundamental problems the plans will encounter – that most GPs do not want the hassle of strategic planning, negotiating multi-million pound budgets and making unpopular decisions about NHS service organisation and costs – and asking whether the white paper marks the beginning of the end of the NHS.
27 Responses to “PCTs: From being “champions for patients” to being abolished – in just two months”
Rachel Hardy
PCTs: From being "champions for patients" to being abolished – in just two months | Left Foot Forward http://goo.gl/mivh
Anon E Mouse
Jill – I’ve never voted Tory, usually Labour but once Lib Dems tactically to get rid of the Tory MP and last time Independent.
The fact is this country run by the Labour Party was a disaster and their quangos and the like such as public servants becoming millionaires stinks.
Couple that with the Labour Party’s love of big business, foreign conflicts, slavish support for right wing US administrations, hammering the poor with excessive taxes, state surveillance, HIP’s, bin tax etc and just general incompetence means I’m with the Lib Dems now their stupid policies such as wishing to scrap Trident have been tempered by the Tories.
The fact is Labour is a busted flush – reading Mandelson’s memoirs in Times tells you everything about (current incarnation) the party.
If Labour supporting zombies had actually listed to critics like me and decent Labour MP’s (Frank Field, John Reid types) and had the guts to act they wouldn’t have had to shuffle, open mouthed into a booth to vote Labour on May 6th.
The last Tory government was 13 years ago. Keep harking on about the past will increase Labour’s time in opposition…
Mike C
Firstly, despite this man’s (Andrew Lansley) best beliefs he doesn’t have the capability to radically redesign NHS provision in such a way all by himself. Nor do the government and its advisors. There needs to national consultation.
Secondly, the GPs don’t have the capability to run and manage the provision either.
Thirdly, there is no mandate for this change. Lansley’s white paper is a clear election promise break.
Finally, the NHS is unable to carry out such a change whilst still finding 20 billion of savings.
I really have to question the gall and sanity of a party which believes it can pull such a radical change out of the hat so soon after being elected with a minority.
Chris
@Anon
Yawn, astroturfing trolls are so boring especially when they put absolutely no effort into it. I mean your post reads like a list of talking points for tabloid interviews and on what fucking planet could Field be called a decent Labour MP, he may be a decent MP but never a Labour one.
Whose hand is up your ass, sockpuppet? A LibDem or maybe your really one of Grant Shapps creations – http://bit.ly/15xsj5
Gerry
Mouse have you ever thought what will happen to your daughters employment as a dental nurse when they scrap the local PCT ?????
What do you think will happen ????
Well I will tell you
the contract/ commissioning of NHS dental services will be given to local GPs
who will, based on previous experience either give it to the cheapest tender or a multinational dentist chain
bye bye little dentist (unless you have a majority of private patients)
so if your daughter is in a practice with 75% NHS dental patients
she will need to find a new job soon