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Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts

In my statement of 18 October, Official Report, columns 49–50WS, I explained the need to streamline strategic health authorities (SHAs) and strengthen primary care trusts (PCTs)—all in the cause of improving services to patients. PCTs need to be able to design, plan and develop better services for all patients in their communities, to work more closely with local government, and more effectively to hold hospitals and general practitioners to account. In my statement, I stated that SHAs had been invited to submit proposals to the Department of Health. I also explained that an external panel had been established to advise Ministers on whether the proposals for reconfiguration submitted by SHAs had adequately engaged local stakeholders and met the criteria set out in ““Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS””, published on 28 July. Following consideration by the external panel and Ministers, I have agreed that all proposals for the reconfiguration of SHAs are fit to go forward for consultation on 14 December. Proposals for PCT configurations will also go forward for consultation on 14 December. The objective has been to ensure that the consultation on PCTs covers the broadest and most appropriate range of options. John Bacon, Group Director of Health and Social Care Services Delivery in the Department of Health, has written to chief executives of SHAs to outline the proposals on which their organisations can consult. A summary of the proposals has been placed in the Library. My noble Friend Lord Warner, the Minister of State for NHS Delivery, has written to hon. Members with constituencies in England to inform them of proposals for SHAs and PCTs in their constituencies. All proposals will be subject to a fourteen week local consultation and I will ensure that Parliament is informed when the consultation process begins. No decisions will be taken regarding the reconfiguration of SHAs or PCTs until the results of the local consultations have been considered and any recommendations reviewed.