Health Improvement Programme for
Doncaster 2000 - 2003

Strategic Direction

The White Paper "The New NHS - Modern and Dependable" published in December 1997 established the national vision for the development of primary care. The strategic aim is:

To ensure that PCGs become fully functioning organisations that are "fit for purpose" in terms of delivering the key objectives:

• Improving the health of the population
• Developing primary and community health services
• Commissioning services

In addition, each Doncaster PCG is consulting about moving towards Primary Care Trust status, with the transition planned to be complete by 2001.

Target

Service targets are included in the specific sections of the HImP. The Primary Care section reflects the organisational development of Primary Care Groups, who are responsible for developing primary care. The targets below are mainly about the processes PCGs need to develop to achieve this.

• To produce Clinical Governance Action Plans.
• To work towards the achievement of "Working Together" - a strategy for the development of Human Resources.
• To complete Primary Care Investment Plans.
• To work towards the establishment of Primary Care Trusts.
• To complete the practice benchmarking project in West PCG.

General Commentary

Doncaster is at the forefront of many of the Government's initiatives, and has a track record of primary care development, including the development of "TARGET", which establishing protected time for professional education. The three PCGs have each produced a Primary Care Investment Plan, setting out objectives over the next three years. These include:

• baseline assessments to obtain a thorough understanding of the current position regarding clinical governance and services available in primary care
• identifying and addressing inequalities of access to services
• ensuring there are enough GPs and nurses in primary care
• improving premises
• developing locally based services
• improving the involvement of communities in decision about services
• further developing the use of information technology to support patient care

Each PCG has identified the benefits of moving to Primary Care Trust status, in that the organisations will be better placed to achieve their key objectives. Doncaster Central PCG hopes to become a PCT in October 2000, and Doncaster East PCG and Doncaster West PCG hope to become PCTs in April 2001.

Further information can be obtained by downloading the full text version of the Health Improvement Programme for Doncaster 2000 - 2003.

Any comments on this section should be submitted to the theme lead: Bob Doyle, Director of Development, Doncaster Health Authority, White Rose House, Ten Pound Walk, Doncaster, DN4 5DJ. Email: bob.doyle@doncaster-ha.trent.nhs.uk