HC Deb 27 January 1998 vol 305 cc143-4
14. Mr. Pond

What proposals he has for boosting the role of nurses in the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997 pilots. [23428]

Ms Jowell

The National Health Service (Primary Care) Act personal medical services pilot scheme offers considerable opportunities to boost the role of nurses in the development of primary care and community health services. For the first time, nurses can lead in the delivery of primary care services, including employing general practitioners.

Mr. Pond

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Will she confirm that this is the first time in the history of the national health service that nurses have been given the green light—by the new Labour Government—to run primary health care in that way, as in the new minor injuries unit at the Gravesend and North Kent hospital in my constituency? Does she agree that giving nurses that major role will result in an improvement in the quality of primary care services?

Ms Jowell

My hon. Friend is right that the measures taken by the Government in approving pilot schemes under the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act put nurses in the driving seat. That is good for nursing and good for patients. It would not have happened had it not been for the insistence of those who are now in government, when they were in opposition, that the provision be extended to nurses. It was the joint efforts of the present Government, when in opposition, together with nursing organisations, that delivered that good deal for nurses, which is also a good deal for patients.

Mr. Lansley

The Observer tells me that I have the honour to represent the healthiest constituency in Britain, and I would like to keep it that way.

Madam Speaker

I am your constituent.

Mr. Lansley

Indeed, Madam Speaker—an example of good health, if I may say so. In that respect, we especially value the role of nurses, including those employed in the community health trust to provide health visiting and school nursing services. In advance of the publication of the Green Paper on public health, will the Minister act to prevent redundancies next week in that community health trust, because they would diminish the universal screening services that it provides, which we regard as of considerable importance to the maintenance of public health in the area?

Ms Jowell

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that at the request of my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell), I recently met staff and representatives of the Lifespan trust to discuss some of the difficulties that they were facing. I understand that the trust has recently announced that although it has accepted some requests for voluntary redundancy, the need for compulsory redundancies has been averted through staff turnover and redeployment. The trust has reviewed children's health services and is implementing a new model that will be responsive to identified clinical needs.