Clause 1 - English health authorities: change of name
NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Bill
11:15 am
Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest, Independent)
I am pleased to be here because it is important to have an Independent Member on a Committee such as this one. I am speaking not as one who has a political background, but for patients and the professions. I support the amendment because as soon as we have strategic health authorities, we must have primary care trusts. I am very concerned that only a few PCTs have been formed so far; although they may be ready to go, I am sure that those that are still PCGs will not be ready, bearing in mind the extra services that they will have to take on which were previously county-wide. In my county, Worcestershire, two of the three groups are still PCGs and have no idea of how they will take on the extra responsibilities.
I strongly support the amendment. It was because I do not wish to delay the Bill that I did not vote against the programme motion.