Memorandum submitted by Norwich City Council
(PCT 32)
This letter is in response to the Health Select
Committee request for information about the Reconfiguration of
PCTs, and the lack of opportunity for consultation on this matter.
The first issue we would like to draw your attention
to is the timescale that the PCTs, and local interested parties
and stakeholders were given to respond to the consultation document
issued by the Strategic Health Authority.
The "Consultation Paper on the Future Configuration
of PCTs in Norfolk", dated 5 September 2005, was sent to
Norwich City Council by the Chair of the Norwich PCT on 8 September
2005. This letter was received in the Council on 9 September 2005.
The Council was asked to submit a response to the PCT by 16 September
2005, so the PCT could respond to the Strategic Health Authority
by 23 September 2005. The letter from the PCT says:
"We recognise that the timescale is very
short and it will nor give organisations the opportunity to respond
formally. However, we are seeking views to shape and influence
the future and would welcome comments by individuals."
The Chief Executive at the time, Anne Seex,
wrote to the Chair of the PCT on 21 September 2005 to give a view
on this important issue pointing out that:
"the timescale given to respond was hardly
reasonable on such a significant matter"
and
"Although I have not had an opportunity
to consult Councillors on this issue . . ."
Given the scale and significance of the issue
Norwich City Council would normally have taken the opportunity
to elicit the views of Councillors on this matter and have approved
a response at the Executive. To indicate the importance that Norwich
City Council places on this subject, the Council, at its meeting
on 25 October 2005, resolved unanimously that—
"Norwich City Council is concerned that
the planning process for the reconfiguration of Primary Care Trusts
(PCTs) in Norfolk did not allow sufficient time for effective
engagement between PCTs and their local stakeholders. The Council
is concerned that the Strategic Health Authority, in promoting
the idea of a Norfolk wide commissioning PCT, has ignored the
favoured option put forward by the Board of Norwich PCT for a
commissioning PCT for the residents of Norwich exclusively.
Norwich City Council urges the Strategic Health
Authority to consider creating a commissioning PCT for Norwich
for the following reasons:
1. Such a body will be able to concentrate
more effectively upon the urban related health issues which affect
much of the population of Norwich and which are likely to receive
less attention in what will be a predominantly rural area.
2. Citizens will be closer to and able to
have more influence upon the health commissioning decisions that
will affect them.
3. Co-terminosity with local government at
district level will enable easier joint working on areas such
as housing, environmental health, benefit administration etc.
4. An independent local body is more likely
to achieve effective engagement with GPs and other local Health
Trusts and thus better outcomes for local people than a locality
group working within a larger organisation."
In addition to this the views of other stakeholders
would also have been sought through the Norwich Partnership, in
particular the Social Issues Round Table of the Norwich Partnership,
which is chaired by the Chair of the PCT.
In view of the fact that the Secretary of State
for Health, Patricia Hewitt, has said that she will reject recommendations
from Strategic Health Authorities that have not been put to widespread
local consultation, we would urge the Select Committee to call
for adequate time for proper consultation in those areas where
this has not taken place.
Councillor Ian Couzens, Leader of the Council,
Councillor Steve Morphew, and Councillor Adrian Ramsay
November 2005
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