I am not so anti these PCGs, after all the Labour party in opposition said
it would get rid of Fundholding and it has - by making us all Total
Purchasers! I hope we all enjoy the irony. Having been part of a TPP for
several years now I can see advantages in the PCGs and our TPP is planning
to dissolve into two PCGs rolling out the commissioning experience that we
have gained. Though alot of the focus in the early years of the project was
on process and structure and building up trust between the members (HA,
Trusts, GPs) latterly, the drive has been service oreintated with a strong
emphasis on the clinical and particulary Primary care. Having the ability to
engage the hospitals in a meaningful dialogue and putting our point of view
has led to changes. Our project has been indpendently evaluated from the the
beginning with the evaluators feeding back their reports into the project.
We are a very different creature from the original form.
However, the move to PCGs must be GP led, bottom up and be owned by the
members or it will all end in tears. It seems clear that alot of you out
there are vey suspicious of the govt and HAs and you may have good reason
but the message from the top seems to be pro GP and I would encourage you to
consider co-operating, 'cos if you don't manage yourselves then someone else
will and not to your liking!
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