The Health service journal
-
Health authorities are likely to emerge as the poor relations in the current NHS reorganisation, just as they did following the 1990 reforms. Planning for health is a key NHS task and primary care groups will not be large enough to take it on. ⋯ Future options include abolishing HAs and making local authorities, regional government or NHS regions responsible for planning. Another option would be creating fewer, bigger authorities for strategic planning.
-
Research in Birmingham involving GPs, the health authority and the local medical committee found support for umbrella arrangements for some primary care group functions. Clinical governance and strategic city-wide planning emerged as particularly suitable for these arrangements. A range of support arrangements are likely to emerge as PCGs develop.