Although the new Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, has only been in post for just over a month, PCTs will already be aware of his programme for the NHS and in particular the future of commissioning. The NHS Confederation has already met Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP on one occasion, which was attended by his ministerial colleagues Simon Burns MP, Minister of State for Health, and Earl Howe, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Quality. Director of Policy, Nigel Edwards, has also separately met David Nicholson, and we have another meeting scheduled with the Secretary of State and senior civil servants on the 15 June.
The NHS Confederation and the PCT Network also had extensive interaction with the Conservatives’ health team when the Party was in opposition. We met Andrew Lansley MP on a number of occasions to help input into policy development. One occasion was a breakfast meeting with members in London last year in July to discuss Conservative health policies. We aim to continue contributing to the implementation of policy in a way which is useful to the Government and beneficial to patient care.
Future meetings and activities
The PCT Network is keen to meet with Simon Burns MP to discuss the future of community services. We are also keen to meet Earl Howe to follow up in more detail the discussions we have already had with him and the Secretary of State on commissioning.
David Stout, PCT Network director, and John McIvor, PCT Network chair, have also separately written to Andrew Lansley MP to offer the network’s help in communicating the Government’s programme and to help facilitate engagement with some of the PCTs that have made the most progress in engaging their GP communities in commissioning. The letter that was sent on behalf of PCT Network members can be read in full here.
In the coming weeks, we will also be seeking meetings with new MPs and other political advisers likely to be active during debates and policy decisions on the NHS.
Further information
If you would like further information on our parliamentary activity on behalf of PCT Network members please contact Patrick Leahy, senior public affairs officer at patrick.leahy@nhsconfed.org.
For information on our work programme and opportunities we have for members to get involved, please contact Martin Panther, senior membership officer, at martin.panther@nhsconfed.org.