Press release: NHS Confederation response to announcement of public consultation on primary care boundary changes

01 Dec 2005

Jo Webber, Deputy Policy Director of the NHS Confederation which represents more than 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said: "Local health services are accountable to the communities they serve and so public consultation on proposed changes to primary care trusts and strategic health authorities is a chance for patients and the public to have their say.

"There is no 'one size fits all' solution for PCT structures and so local plans need to reflect the needs of the local population and be rooted in what is best for patients.

"The NHS now needs stability to be able to concentrate on the challenges of providing high quality and accessible patient care for all and so we hope this latest reorganisation will be the last for the foreseeable future."

The NHS Confederation has surveyed its members to gauge their views about the government document 'Commissioning a Patient-led NHS', published in July, on which the public consultation  proposals are based.
Jo Webber said: "Our poll of 60 NHS chief executives indicates that they agree with the broad policy direction for the future of PCTs outlined by the government. For example, 64 per cent of chief executives said re-focussing PCTs' role on commissioning services, rather than providing services, will deliver better patient care.

"And they welcomed the involvement of voluntary and private sector providers as a positive development for patients - 90 per cent of chief executives supported the involvement of the voluntary sector and 69 per cent supported the involvement of the private sector.

"This demonstrates that NHS leaders recognise that the most important thing is to have the right care provided by the right person in the right place, to deliver the best possible care for patients.

"However, we welcome the Secretary of State's clarification which means that PCTs will continue to be able to provide services, as well as commission them."
                       
ENDS

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 90 per cent of the organisations that make up the NHS throughout the UK. Its members include the majority of NHS trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland. 

Contact details

Contact Media Relations Manager Matt Akid on 020 7074 3306 or 07887 633344 or Media Officer Amy Darlington on 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309 - out of hours please contact the on-call press officer on 07880 500726.

Back to media centre