[log in to unmask],Net writes:
M & M were saying:
>>Item:
>>23. It will be for community nurses locally to decide who is to
>represent
>>them in the governing arrangements for Primary Care Groups.
>I'd love to think it was - but all the nurses identified are employed by
>a Trust. Inevitably, the choice will be influenced (if not decided!) by
>the employer; and if it isn't, could they deliver the goods
This was a point raised at a joint meeting of BMA Division and RCN in
Exeter a while back.
I have considerable faith in the British tendency to shift viewpoint
when appointed to a public body. IE I think that provided nurse or GP
representatives are appointed to a commissioning group rather than
tasked to represent their practice or group at it's meetings, they will
tend fairly reliably to act in the interests of the body and of the
public good.
Salaried status is in one way a protection for the citizens in that
situuation, as it is a far more potent perverter of judgement to have
one's profits dependent on the outcome of a meeting than to know that
one's employing authority may well have a view which is not completely
aligned with the view of one's ctee.
Ahmad could withstand the first pressure, I might be able to but would
always be aware of it, all of us on this list could withstand the
latter pressure, and if it was actual rather than potential the BMA or
RCN would support the individual through the Industrial Tribunal, or to
the NHS onmbudsman.
But, as I say, part of the British culture as yet unsubverted despite
the previous administration's efforts is that we stop short of and
avoid such excesses by some peculiar and low key communal process. I
like it.
>>24. In addition, it is desirable for practice nurses to be similarly
>>encouraged to be involved in the development of Primary Care
>Side question - how much communication and common interest is there
>between practice nurses in different practices?
In Devonthere are groups of practice nurses in both HA areas.
One of them has an e-mail conference becomeing active as part of the
medical information resource.
THe other has good if more traditional communications.
The only thing I would say against them is that some of the leaders are
insufficiently sensitive to th enature of GP funding which suppotts
them in their work and other activities.
Involving them in the PCG is going to make them more sensitive not less
so, IMHO.
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