Examination of Witnesses (Questions 140
- 141)
THURSDAY 9 MARCH 2006
MR BERNARD
RIBEIRO, MR
SIMON KELLY,
PROFESSOR JANET
HUSBAND, DR
PETER SIMPSON
AND MR
IAN LESLIE
Q140 Chairman: I am very grateful
to you for writing the report! To say that while we are in the
first witness session is commendable! Just to finish this session,
and I would like to go across the piece on this one with all of
you, what would be the one thing that you would add to Phase 2,
if that is what you were doing, and I know Phase 2 is on its way
now, and what would you take away from Phase 2, or from Phase
1, as it were?
Mr Ribeiro: When I went to the
Trafford centre, the Greater Manchester centre, I did a rather
unusual thing which was I officially opened an ISTC centre and
cut the ribbon, and in my opening speech I said to the CEO, Dr
Eduard Lotz, that I would hope that in five years' time this splendid
hospital would be part and parcel of the NHS.
Professor Husband: I would take
away additionality completely and add in clinical radiology leadership
for the programme to be integrated.
Mr Leslie: I would echo that it
should be incorporated in the NHS and, in the meantime, quality
assurance of the work being done needs to be absolute.
Dr Simpson: I think we should
be grateful that effectively we are being provided with ring-fenced
surgical beds, which is what it is, but they must be integrated
into the NHS plan and pattern of work.
Mr Kelly: I would support everything
that my colleagues have said, and I think it is absolutely vital
that there must be clinical leadership in discussions with the
Department which have been sadly lacking in the earlier phases.
This is necessary and it has to be done by specialty and also
by locality. It is probably also worth bearing in mind that none
of the advisers at the National Implementation Team have much,
if any, clinical background. Most of them are independent consultants,
many from management consultancy agencies, and there is also a
danger that they tell senior policy people and ministers what
they want to hear. The voice of the College may sometimes tell
people what they do not want to hear, but it is a voice that needs
to be heard. The Colleges have been here for a long time, and
will be here for a long time, and patient and public safety and
training is our underlying bedrock.
Q141 Chairman: Could I thank you
all very much indeed for this session. I am sure it is going to
be very useful when we come to make our recommendations to Government
in this area.
Mr Ribeiro: On our behalf may
we thank you for your civility and kindness to us during today's
meeting.
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