PCT Network established its rural PCT forum in the spring of 2009. The aim of this group is to focus on the specific needs and issues of our rural PCT members. The network understands how important it is to support its members as they drive to maintain and improve services to their local communities. It is also important that the needs of smaller, rural areas are represented in the national media and to the public. Karen Knapton, chair, East Riding of Yorkshire Primary Care Trust, chaired the first meeting of this group which was held in Peterborough in June 2009. David Stout, director, PCT Network and Naomi Foxwood, senior policy manager, also attended this meeting. Topics covered included the following issues facing our rural members and their local communities such as demographic issues, fast growing and ageing populations and deprivation and unemployment.
Rural PCT forum meetings 2010
Our rural members came together on 3 November in London to discuss the implications of the Government's health white paper and the recent comprehensive spending review. To find out more about this meeting please contact Elizabeth Wade, Head of Commissioning Policy and Membership at elizabeth.wade@nhsconfed.org.
NHS Confederation Annual Conference and Exhibition 2010
Our rural PCT members also came together during the NHS Confederation Annual Conference and Exhibition in Liverpool in June to discuss the common issues and agree key messages and actions for the group. The forum agreed to produce a document to help rural PCTs articulate the specific challenges around rural healthcare. PCT Network members can read the report from this meeting in full.
PCT Network discusses rural issues with shadow health minister
On 23 March, David Stout and other members of the PCT Network team had a meeting with the Shadow Health Minister Mark Simmonds MP to discuss rural issues and priorities. These included the importance of getting a more effective and systematic method of rural proofing national policy, streamlining regulation on PCTs, more policy flexibility to allow for local decision making and tackling the funding issue as an imperative.
Further information
For more information about the rural PCT forum please contact Elizabeth Wade at elizabeth.wade@nhsconfed.org.