Consultation begins on the future structure of PECs
The consultation was launched last week |
Consultation on a review of primary care trust (PCT) professional executive committees (PECs) in England began last week when the NHS Alliance, on behalf of the Department of Health, published “Fit to lead”, a review of PECs informed by the opinions and experiences of key stakeholders, including pharmacists.
Reconfiguration of PCTs, the move to practice-based commissioning and
the success of some PECs, but not others, are reasons
cited by the DoH for its review (PJ, 16 September, p325). Indeed, there is consensus among
contributors to the review that PECs need to change to reflect the changing
roles of PCTs.
There is also agreement that a flexible approach is needed. “PCTs
vary hugely in their population size, geography and health needs. Prescriptive
advice from the DoH should be kept to a minimum, although guiding principles
and facilitation are essential,” says the consultation paper.
The paper was launched at the NHS Alliance conference held in Bournemouth
last week. During a session entitled “Engaging clinicians in the
newly reconfigured PCTs”, Gary Belfield, head of primary care at
the Department of Health and lead for the review, reassured participants
that the DoH does not yet have a view on the future structure and functions
of PECs. “The only view we have is that PECs are needed — it
is a blank sheet of paper,” he said.
Several PEC chairmen at the conference expressed concern that the committees
would end up being constituted of mainly GPs with little input from other
professionals. However, Mr Belfield confirmed that the DoH recognises
the importance of multiprofessional involvement in PECs. “We need
to think about how to get a broad church of people involved — the
DoH is interested in that,” he said.
Mark Bulmore, a pharmacist and chairman of the professional executive
committee at South East Essex PCT, believes that the review offers an
opportunity to ensure that community pharmacists, as clinical leaders
in primary care, continue to be involved in these committees. “The
DoH has not yet made up its mind about the future structure of PECs.
It is therefore important that pharmacists respond to the consultation
in order to ensure that they continue to play an important role in future
PECs,” he told The Journal.
The national pharmacy bodies produced a joint response to inform the
review, which highlighted the inherent conflict of interest in many practices
taking on both a commissioning and a provider role under practice-based
commissioning. They argue that, since PCTs remain accountable financially
for the decisions of their constituent commissioning groups, the new
PECs could play a key role in scrutinising decisions made within these
groups. This, they say, would give PCTs confidence that commissioning
plans take into account the full range of delivery options and ensure
value for money. To be effective in this new role, they say, the PEC
should be a cross professional and sectoral forum involving providers
and frontline clinicians rather than PCT employees. No one profession
should be in the majority.
The full consultation document can be accessed at the DoH
website. Responses to the key questions
must be received by 7 February 2007.
News feature p662 |
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