GP changes could help tackle teenage pregnancies

WEDNESDAY MAY 24.

DECISIONS on what health care is provided for local people could soon be made by them in tandem with Harlow health carers under changes to the Harlow Primary Care Group, Labour MP Bill Rammell said this week.

He was commenting on a recent vote by Harlow GPs in favour of Harlow Primary Care Group's bid to become an autonomous Primary Care Trust .

The Local Medical Committee conducted the ballot which showed two to one GPs were in favour of the move towards self-governance of the local health service by a committee of professionals and lay people from next April.

Mr Rammell said: 'Establishing Primary Care Trusts is the way the government has ended the two-tier fund-holding system we inherited from the Conservatives.

'This will mean we can channel more money into local priorities such as Harlow's higher than average rates of heart disease and reducing Harlow's large number of teenage pregnancies.'

Currently a sub committee of North Essex Health Authority, if the Primary Care Group became a trust it would be able to employ staff, control its own budget and have greater powers to tailor services to people's needs.

Favouring the change, Primary Care Group chairman and local GP Dr Cliff Bishop said: 'We think this is a big opportunity for the town and for health care but applying to become a primary care trust is a big decision which needs the views of local people.'

Primary Care Group chief executive Sally Gorham said: 'For the first time Harlow would have its own health organisation based in the town which would be putting Harlow's needs first, concentrating on making sure Harlow people get the health services they need and deserve.

'People will have more influence over health decisions with seats on the board of the new organisation.'

An application to become a trust will now be made to the Secretary of State for Health.