For GP-UKs Interest:
Source: Rob Hampton <[log in to unmask]> (gp-pcprp)
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Dear all

For those who have not yet seen it, please find a copy of a press release put
out on Monday relating to changes at CCC.

Start:

NEW arrangements for the management of the NHS Centre for Coding and
Classification were put in place by the NHS Executive today.

Dr James Read, who until today was Executive Director of the Centre, has become
Director responsible for Classifications with a NHSCCC promotional role and has
relinquished responsibilities for directing the centre to Miss Ann Harding of
Leicestershire
Health Authority. Dr Read will report to Miss Harding.

the new arrangements address concerns that Dr James Read could be subject to a
conflict of interests as both Director of NHSCCC and Chairman of the company
CAMS which distribute Read Codes. The appointment of Miss Harding as overall
Executive Director will ensure no potential conflict of interest can manifest
itself.

The separation of functions between NHSCCC and CAMS is in line with the
recommendations of a recent study of the distribution of the codes. It is
proposed that CAMS 'a rights to distribute the codes should no longer be
exclusive when the current contract ends in March 1999.

One recommendation of that report was that more effective, collaborative
promotional plans for Read Codes should be defined between NHSCCC and CAMS.
Implementation of that recommendation will involve Dr Read playing a promotional
role for Read Codes and NHSCCC in addition to his duties in directing
classifications work.

Dr Read said "The repeated concerns about possible conlficts of interest arising
from my positions in both NHSCCC and CAMS have made my life very uncomfortable
at times, The new arrangements enable me both to pursue an area of particular
interest to me whilst also assisting in the promotion of the codes and NHSCCC".

Miss Harding said: "The work of the centre is of importance to the NHS and I
welcome the challenge of helping the centre to take forward the development of
the codes".

There is no change to the NHS Executive's commitment to Read Codes as part of
its information management and technology strategy for the NHS.

Statement ends

Source: Rob Hampton <[log in to unmask]> (gp-pcprp)


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