Denham putting health experts in driving seat of primary care

In his first major speech since his appointment at the start of this year (optician, News, January 8), Mr Denham addressed the National Association of Primary Care Conference last Friday (February 26). He said the Government would play its part with the introduction of the telephone 'NHS Direct' link nationwide and the development of Healthy Living Centres. 'But we have put doctors, nurses and other health professionals in the driving seat of Primary Care Groups and Trusts,' he said. 'Because they have the professional and personal knowledge of patients' needs to lead the modernisation of primary care.' Mr Denham said that PCGs had created a 'powerful structure', and with Primary Care Trusts, that structure could bring about changes the Government wanted to see. Mr Denham told the conference he expected health authorities to play a 'full role' in building PCGs and Trusts, and reassured GPs that they were central to the Government's view on the way primary care should be developed.