DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by The Government News Network on 30 March 2007
- Clinicians to be
in the majority on local committees -
- PECs gain key role in driving forward 'care closer to
home' reform -
Clinicians on new professional executive committees (PECs) will
gain greater control over local NHS priorities, policies and
investment plans under new guidance published today designed to
ensure that clinicians from a multi-professional background are
firmly part of primary care trusts' (PCTs) decision making process.
New guidance for PECs, issued today by Health Minister Andy
Burnham, advises that all PEC members should be appointed on the
basis of their skills, competencies, and ability to lead.
Clinicians must also be in the majority on the committees.
Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) will oversee the new
arrangements to ensure that PCTs are effectively engaging their
clinicians and using their PECs to design and deliver local services.
Historically, many PECs have made a broad and valued contribution
to the strategic direction and operational delivery of PCTs and to
the wider healthcare agenda. However, other PECs have acted
purely in an advisory capacity, functioning narrowly around a
requirement to add clinical perspective to decisions that are
taken elsewhere in the PCT.
Health Minister Andy Burnham said:
"Today's guidance will re-establish and reinvigorate
professional executive committees, giving clinicians from a
multi-professional background a greater say on local NHS decisions.
"Whitehall will do less dictating on what these committees
will look like. PCTs will be free to decide how many members they
need to have and the NHS will be able to bring in extra members to
tackle specific challenges.
"With the introduction of practice based commissioning and
the delegation of budgets, there needs to be a stronger emphasis
on commissioning. Strong professional executive committees can
play a vital role in providing the effective managerial and
clinical leadership needed."
Dr Michael Dixon, NHS Alliance chair, said:
"This new guidance ensures clinicians are at the centre of
all major decisions in PCTs. Hopefully, its spirit will be
followed elsewhere in the NHS. We particularly welcome the
department's own commitment to support the 'three at the
centre' PCT leadership team and the advice contained within
the guidance for SHAs.
"Most importantly, this guidance will reassure PEC
clinicians that their role and input is valued and essential. It
will also encourage frontline clinicians to support the PEC and
their PCT. That is particularly important for the success of
practice based commissioning. The NHS Alliance is pleased that it
was able to contribute significantly to the department's
review of the PEC."
Dr Peter Melton, NHS Networks chair, said:
"NHS Networks was pleased to be able to support the
formulation of "Fit to lead". We had over 80 responses
from a wide mix of individuals and organisations that we fed into
the review. We believe that this document reflects the consensus
view of re-energising, empowering and embedding clinical
leadership into effective local NHS organisations. "The PEC
Chair Network hosted by NHS Networks has drafted a proposed PEC
Performance management framework. This framework is intended to
support PCTs and SHAs with their effective implementation of
"Fit to Lead"."
The main guidelines for the new PECs are:
- PCTs to get the freedom to determine the structure and format
of PECs according to local needs.
- Members to be appointed against competencies, placing the
emphasis on individuals' skills.
- PEC membership will be based on clear job descriptions, with
appointments made on the basis of competencies.
- PECs should not be dominated by one clinical group.
- PECs to have a key role in driving forward practice based
commissioning, including advising and contributing to the overall direction.
PCTs are expected to implement the new guidance by 1 October 2007.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. PECS take responsibility for leading and guiding the PCT board
through detailed thinking on priorities, service policies and
investment plans. It usually has responsibility, delegated from
the board, to take these forward.
2. The guidance published today takes into account responses to
the Department of Health's consultation, 'Fit to Lead,
a Review of the PEC'. The guidance can be viewed on the
Department of Health web-site at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_073508.
3. The PEC Chair Network hosted by NHS Networks has drafted a
proposed PEC Performance management framework. This framework is
intended support PCTs and SHAs with their effective implementation
of "Fit to Lead". It can be viewed at http://www.networks.nhs.uk .
The PEC Chair Network intends to refine the document before the
implementation date of 01/10/07. They would be interested to hear
views through kathie.andrews@networks.nhs.uk.
4. For public enquiries, please ring 020 7210 4850.