Care change plans must work for all

THE delivery of sustainability and transformation plans for the NHS in the North East will likely change the landscape of delivery of care in the region.

We welcomed a consultation with NHS England at a recent meeting of the BMA North East regional council which was a chance to voice our concerns over how these plans would be implemented.

There has been growing concern over large-scale reorganisation, including the introduction of Accountable Care Organisations, and we must ensure there is accountability and concerns are addressed over privatisation and how it will impact those working in the medical profession.

Changes to areas such as emergency medicine must be clinician-led to ensure that patient care remains consistent. Given the current crisis in general practice, there is a concern that the planned transference of care from the hospital sector to general practice may not be realistic or easily achievable without extra support for GPs.

Whilst integration could potentially be a good thing for different work streams such as the cancer alliance, we need to be certain that reconfiguration will be done with patient care at the forefront rather than acting predominantly as a vehicle for savings. DR GEORGE RAE, North East

regional council chair