Lib Dems: time to scrap PCTs
Primary care trusts should be scrapped and replaced with elected local health boards, the Liberal Democrats have proposed.
Alternatively, PCTs' work could be transferred to local government to improve democratic accountability, the party's health spokesman Norman Lamb said.
The proposals are included in a document setting out Mr Lamb's ideas for the future of the health service, published on the eve of the party's conference this week, which focuses on the need for more local decision-making.
His recommendations come after health minister Ben Bradshaw warned there was a 'problem' with primary care trusts' accountability (see full story).
Health boards or councils would be allowed to raise extra money for their local health services under the Liberal Democrats' plans to establish a local income tax.
Mr Lamb said: 'Protests against hospital closures and cuts to services up and down the country show that local people do not feel their voices are being heard.
'The key is creating real accountability to communities, where they have the power to make decisions on how money is spent in the NHS.'
The changes would lead to the abolition of strategic health authorities, the paper said, which could be replaced by bodies 'with representation from local health boards' to plan specialist services across a region.
Other recommendations include ensuring all directors of public health are joint posts between the NHS and local government.
The NHS Confederation welcomed the report and said it was working with members on how to 'make accountability a reality' without further reorganisation of services.
Chief executive Dr Gill Morgan commented: 'With greater local autonomy comes the need for better systems for local accountability and we agree this is something that needs to be examined as an essential part of allowing our members the leeway to improve services according to local conditions.'
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