24 February 2012
Clinical Commissioning Coalition Response to No10 Summit
In response to the meeting on 21 February 2012 between the Prime Minister, the Health Secretary and an array of health organisations – including NAPC, the NHS Confederation and the NHS Alliance – to discuss the NHS reform agenda and consequent improvements arising from the changes
Dr Charles Alessi, a senior member of the Clinical Commissioning Coalition, commented: “The mood of the meeting was extremely positive and both David Cameron and Andrew Lansley were very upbeat in their reassurances that clinical commissioning would become a reality in the near future. It was also very encouraging to learn of the improvements already taking place through clinical commissioning, including the drop in the number of emergency admissions to hospital in the last year. This is particularly encouraging, given the political environment, in which they have taken place over that period, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, in terms of what is both possible and necessary.”
Donal Hynes, another senior member of the CCC also present at the summit, added: “We emphasized with the PM the importance of gaining reassurances that local decision-making would be guaranteed in the Reforms. This reassurance from the PM will go a long way towards assuaging the concerns of many about the prospects of slipping into another top-down management model.”
NAPC and NHSA, and their members, as part of the Clinical Commissioning Coalition, will continue to represent the concerns and ambitions of the Clinical Commissioning Groups in regular discussions with the Department. We will continue efforts to build on the potential the reforms offer for improving the quality of patient care and modernising the NHS, and wholeheartedly support clinical commissioning as the appropriate vehicle for delivery.
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- For more information, please email pressoffice@nhsalliance.orgor call 07772756674.