HEALTH Secretary Patricia Hewitt has given the go-ahead to a Primary Care Trust to cover Waveney and Great Yarmouth.Ms Hewitt has vetoed objections to the proposal from the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge Strategic Health Authority, which wanted county wide bodies for Suffolk and Norfolk.

By Graham Dines

HEALTH Secretary Patricia Hewitt has given the go-ahead to a Primary Care Trust to cover Waveney and Great Yarmouth.

Ms Hewitt has vetoed objections to the proposal from the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge Strategic Health Authority, which wanted county wide bodies for Suffolk and Norfolk.

Instead, the Suffolk PCT will take over the responsibilities currently in the hands of Ipswich, Suffolk Coastal, West Suffolk and Mid Suffolk PCTs while Norfolk PCT will be responsible for Norwich and the rest of the county with the exception of Great Yarmouth.

Waveney MP, Bob Blizzard has reacted with delight to the decision. “Patricia Hewitt has listened to the case that I put to her in parliament. It was a strong case, backed by every strand of local medical opinion with overwhelming public support.

“She has backed our local area instead of the remote county wide PCT that the bureaucrats wanted. Waveney and Great Yarmouth is a natural health community.

“The new PCT will now be able to focus on commissioning the health services that are right for our local area and funding will be based on our particular local needs. It will be able to work closely with local GPs to serve local people. It will be able to maintain the strong relationship with the James Paget Hospital and also develop the 'care even closer to home' agenda.”

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