Cypriot GP on Haringey health care frontline
Haringey health campaigners are celebrating after managing to influence the founding principles of the borough’s new frontline healthcare body
The Haringey branch of national pressure group 38 Degrees is only the third in the country to get all its suggested amendments on buying health services written into the constitution of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
Haringey CCG is a new body made up of local GPs which will be responsible for planning, monitoring and buying borough health services from April.
Last month, 38 Degrees presented the CCG with a petition signed by more than 2,000 people backing its proposed amendments, which includes only using contractors or providers which are “good employees” and prohibit using companies which use improper tax avoidance and off-shore schemes.
David King, of 38 Degrees, said: “At the end of the day, it is not going to stop privatisation of the NHS but what it does is mitigate some of the worst effects.”
CCG chairman Dr Helen Pelendrides, who is also a Haringey GP, said: “We thought that 38 Degrees made helpful suggestions and were pleased to find that we had included much of their wording and/or intention in our constitution already.
“However, there were other sections we thought were useful and which we have added.
“It is important to note that the constitution is in draft form, and does still need to be agreed by member GP practices and adopted by the CCG’s governing body at the next meeting in March.”
She added: “From April 2013, we will be a statutory organisation and will plan, monitor and buy services for local people in Haringey. Our aim is do everything we can to enable the people of Haringey to live long and healthy lives with access to safe and high quality services.”
n A public meeting to discuss the changes to health services in Haringey is taking place at 7.30 pm Tuesday, March 5, at Wood Green Christian Centre, Lymington Avenue. Speakers include representatives from 38 Degrees Haringey and the CCG.
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