Whether all PCTs are required to procure a health centre
A letter from Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the GPs committee to Lord Darzi
16 April 2008
Dear Lord Darzi
I am writing to you to try to clarify some confusion that still remains among GPs and Primary Care Trust officials about the procurement of new health centres; that is, whether or not it is an absolute requirement for a PCT to procure at least one new health centre in its area.
Whilst we had understood that the original intention behind the national directive was for each PCT to procure a new health centre, your letter to me of 17 January 2008 refers to the local flexibilities that will be in place to allow PCTs to “reflect the local needs and ensure the best services for their local populations”. The letter also expresses your view that specifications for new services should be underpinned by close clinical and public engagement locally and that PCTs should define their own requirements to reflect local needs and circumstances. This approach was supported by Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, in his speech of 5 March 2008 at the NHS Confederation Primary Care Network.
We have had sight of various consultation documents from PCTs which state that the local consultation is only about how such a new service will be provided rather than the need for an additional health centre, as that decision has deemed to have formed part of national level consultation exercises. Therefore it appears that the statements about local flexibilities are somewhat contradictory as the flexibility does not appear to extend to allowing a PCT to consult on whether there should be a health centre at all. This is particularly pertinent in areas where the equivalent of a health centre or polyclinic already exists or where existing services are able to provide the sort of services envisaged by any new health centre.
I would be grateful for clarification on whether the local flexibilities alluded to in your previous communications, and your public commitment to the idea that one size will not fit all, means that PCTs have the freedom not to go ahead with procurements if not deemed necessary by the PCT and the local population.
I would appreciate an early response given that we are receiving increasing queries and concerns from GPs regarding this issue.
Yours sincerely
Dr Laurence Buckman
Chairman, General Practitioners Committee