The Petition of residents of the North East Cambridgeshire Constituency,
Declares that the Petitioners believe that healthcare should be more localised in North East Cambridgeshire; further that residents of North East Cambridgeshire face long travel times and costs when requiring procedures which should be delivered locally; further that the Petitioners believe that treating patients locally brings significant benefits; and further that there is a community campaign entitled ‘Treat Me Local’ calling for healthcare to be more localised in North East Cambridgeshire which has been signed by 1,389 individuals.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that the ten pledges of the Treat Me Local campaign in North East Cambridgeshire are fulfilled within twelve months.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Stephen Barclay, Official Report, 25 November 2014; Vol. 588, c. 888.]
[P001401]
Observations from the Secretary of State for the Department of Health:
Decisions about local services should be made as close to patients as possible, by those who are best placed to work with the patients and the public to understand their needs. Patients and carers should be at the heart of the NHS, through shared decision-making about their care and meaningful involvement in how health services are organised.
Local NHS commissioners now have the freedom and autonomy to take responsibility for meeting the needs of local patients and the public by working closely with secondary care, other health and care professionals and with community partners to design joined up services.
These commissioning arrangements encourage innovation by placing commissioning with the local GPs who know patients best and are aware of the latest clinical evidence and technological advances in health and care.
The hon. Member for North-East Cambridgeshire has met local commissioners to discuss the “Treat Me Local” campaign, and local commissioners have welcomed his interest in developing health services further for the local population.