Primary health care - some compromising

A REPORT on primary health care in north Suffolk has criticised senior managers and said the "clinical governance" of three community hospitals has been "potentially compromised".

A REPORT on primary health care in north Suffolk has criticised senior managers and said the "clinical governance" of three community hospitals has been "potentially compromised".

The Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority was asked to conduct a review of the Waveney Primary Care Trust (PCT) after concerns were raised about "internal problems" at the trust.

The report and recommendations were accepted in full by the PCT board at a private meeting at the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.

Jane Hore, chairman of the Waveney Primary Care Trust, resigned prior to the report being presented to the rest of the board.

Overall, the review team found flaws in the leadership style displayed at Waveney coupled with a shortfall in the level of clinical leadership.

The report states that the "leadership style" of the PCT was a fundamental cause in the events leading to the establishment of the review.

"The leadership and overall management of the merger of Lowestoft PCT and South Waveney PCG was found to be unsatisfactory resulting in a loss of confidence of key stakeholders particularly within the South Waveney area," said the report.

The review team also criticised the transfer of the three community hospitals at Halesworth, Southwold and Beccles.