The Editor, Daily Telegraph Re: GPs Roadmap and Darzi Report

Dear Sir,
Your front-page story, Oct 4th “High-tech clinics sigtnal end of local hospitals” follows up Health Minister Lord Darzi’s report “A Framework for Action” – in its essence a consultant’s report in favour of consultants, the reverse of a “patient centred NHS”, the fundamental plank in Government’s health policy.

Of equal importance is the “Roadmap – the future direction of General Practice” issued within the last month by the Royal College of GPs, after much consultation. It “cautions against the development of polyclinics.”

Lord Darzi rightly states that his report is “not about imposing more change from the centre. Effective change needs to be driven locally.” Given the absence of parliamentary debate, it is up to Primary Care Trusts, Councils and their Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees to ensure that a proper balance is secured between these two perspectives, the Darzi Report and the GPs’ Roadmap.

Nowhere can this be better done than in London where each of its 32 borough councils have co-terminous boundaries with their PCTs. NHS London, its Strategic Health Authority, has, by statute, to arrange consultations on the Darzi Report, and until these are completed, it remains no more than a government proposal, not a plan for execution by the NHS. NHS London should include the GPs’ Roadmap in these consultations.

Yours sincerely
Francis King