NHS Reorganisation

My hon. Friend has made a sustained and consistent case for the ambulance trust that she knows so well. I repeat that no decision has yet been taken on the consultations that are taking place on PCTs, ambulance trusts or strategic health authority reform. I have heard my hon. Friend make that point on many occasions and we are listening to the representations that are being made. We know that there is more that ambulance trusts need to achieve if we are to realise our vision for ambulance services and integrated urgent care. To do this, we need organisations that have the capacity and capability to plan for tomorrow as well as to deal with today. That is not achieved through small organisations struggling to deal with huge agendas, or through unnecessary duplication of procurement planning and support services. However, it can be achieved through collaboration and getting best value. This reconfiguration is about delivering for the taxpayer. It is about combining high-quality leadership with retaining the best of what can be delivered locally. It is not about change for change’s sake. In the case of ambulance trusts, there was a clear view from stakeholders that the lack of coterminosity and the small size of some trusts were acting as barriers to improved patient care. This view was reflected in the recommendations of the recent ambulance service review. To achieve the change we are aiming for, we want SHAs to lead the process of reconfiguration locally. We have asked them to work with their local stakeholders, including MPs from both sides of the Chamber, and to put forward proposals for the reconfiguration of ambulance trusts, PCTs and SHAs against a set of national criteria.