Fears clinical engagement will be lost as new PCTs kick off
New primary care trusts in England come into being next week and many are still to appoint chairmen and chief executives, which could take the PCTs' focus away from clinical engagement.
The NHS Appointments Commission confirmed this week that only 99 of the
152 PCT chairmen have been appointed. However, it added that more appointments
are to be considered this weekend. Non-executive directors will not be
appointed until a chairman is in position.
Brian Jolley, a pharmacist and currently chairman of the professional
executive committee at Waveney PCT, warns that there is a danger that
PCTs which have not appointed chairmen and chief executives will lose
clinical engagement.
At the same time, the membership and functions of professional executive
committees (PECs) are under
review by the Government (PJ, 16 September,
p325) meaning that all new PECs in reconfigured PCTs are an interim measure. “I
have heard of some PECs being formed which are smaller and more focussed.
In the confusion, clinical engagement may be lost, with PCTs falling
back on practice-based commissioning for clinical involvement. This could
prove to be a threat for pharmacy and other professions,” said
Mr Jolley. In non-reconfigured PCTs the existing PECs will be retained
until the review is completed. |
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