PCTs should set funds aside for public health
Hot on the heels of the public
health White Paper, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Care and Public Health last week wrote an open letter to a range of interested parties including the NHS Alliance, the British Medical Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the royal colleges, following its own inquiry.
One focus of the letter is that PCTs should be a major part of the public
health delivery system. However, speaking at the group’s annual
parliamentary self-care reception in London, Stephen Hesford MP, secretary
of the group, said that although PCTs are willing partners in delivery
they are not always able to do what they want — getting local or
community concerns right does not necessarily leave any money for public
health.
“We think within the PCT budget there should be a ring-fenced budget
for public health to make sure it’s not the Cinderella subject
it can be or has been over the past few years,” Mr Hesford said.
The group estimate that the average PCT would need about £1m per
year to ensure that appropriately trained people are in place. “I
think there will be still a number of PCTs who don’t have a director
of public health,” Mr Hesford added.
Also speaking at the reception, Howard Stoate MP, co-chair of the group said: “The
White Paper is not legislation yet. We have plenty of mileage to carry on influencing
the debate.” Dr Stoate also said that he was pleased to see pharmacy as
part of the public health agenda. |
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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