Date: 06/10/2010
Around 60 Lambeth and Southwark residents came together to discuss and formulate a response to the Coalition Government's Health White Paper: "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS".
The meeting held on September 30 at Lambeth ACCORD, Brixton, was jointly organised by Lambeth LINk and LINk Southwark to discuss proposals that will have a huge impact on the health and social care services in the boroughs.
Lambeth LINk, Co-Chair, Aisling Duffy presented the Lambeth LINk view on the White Paper key proposals which include the abolishment of all primary care trusts and strategic health authorities and the creation of GP consortiums which will be responsible for commissioning the majority of health services.
LINk Southwark, Vice-Chair, Felicia Boshorin discussed another White Paper key proposal, which sees LINk changing to HealthWatch with additional advocacy roles and uncertainty over funding.
Other speakers included Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, Southwark Council and Maria Burton, Head of Health and Wellbeing Partnership, Lambeth Council, talked about the scale of organisational change that will be needed to fully implement the proposed changes and the fact that this change will be taking place against a backdrop of challenging public finances.
After the presentations, attendees split off into workshop groups and discussed the key proposals in depth. The views collected from the meeting will contribute to the response to consultation papers.
Click here to read the full Lambeth LINk response to the White Paper
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