Press release: NHS Confederation announces joint work with NatPaCT on clinical engagement

21 Nov 2002

The NHS Confederation and the Modernisation Agency's National Primary and Care Trust Development Team (NatPaCT) have joined forces today to launch a work programme on clinical engagement, to ensure doctors are in the driving seat in local efforts to improve patient care.

Funded by the Department of Health, the programme will help rethink the relationship between doctors and managers. Through a series of learning events across the country, it will explore new ways of engaging clinicians in leading change, to enable PCTs and Trusts to learn from existing examples of good practice.

Launching the programme at a joint NHS Confederation and Royal College of General Practitioners conference, Nigel Edwards said: "We'll never get the NHS we want if doctors and managers aren't working effectively together, and if clinicians aren't fully engaged in helping to lead change.

"Getting these relationships right must now be at the top of the health agenda. We hope this work with NatPaCT will be an opportunity to test new ways in which doctors and managers can work together to improve patient care."

Ends

Notes for editors

1. Nigel Edwards will announce the new work programme at a joint NHS Confederation and Royal College of General Practitioners conference on 12 November, entitled 'Connecting to Success: achieving excellence in primary care'. The conference is taking place at the Shaw Park Plaza Hotel from 10.00am to 16.15pm.
2. Other speakers will include the Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Mike Farrar, chair of the NHS Confederation GMS contract negotiating team, and David Haslam from the RCGP. For further information about the conference, please call Jenny Reindorp on 07880 500050.
3. The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts, health authorities and local health groups in Wales; trusts and NHS boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
4. The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom solely for GPs. It aims to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general practice and to act as the "voice" of GPs on issues concerned with education, training, research and standards.
   

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