As chairman of the primary care trusts in South Essex I am committed to work to make the proposed NHS changes a success, and to supporting the developing NHS organisations of the future.

Subject to the passage of the NHS Bill, the clinical commissioning groups, local government, and the NHS commissioning board must successfully take over the functions our primary care trusts currently deliver.

I support the concept of strong clinical leadership and see this as a positive move in helping to shape an effective NHS for the future.

However, I was very disappointed to read Dr Cormack’s comments relating to primary care trusts.

I am very proud of the work the primary care trusts in south Essex are doing.

It is my belief every function which is currently undertaken by primary care trusts will need to be continued by the successor organisations.

I am confident the significant skills of the staff of the primary care trusts will be invaluable in the future, to assure the new organisations quality services are being provided, in primary care, in community and in hospital settings.

The skills of our staff will also continue to be needed to support patients and the community when they feel uncertain or disappointed about the services they are receiving.

Our highly-specialised public health staff will also continue to make a vital contribution to public health for the community, as this function transfers to local government.

I want our NHS staff to move into the future with confidence, while being proud of our past achievements.

Katherine Kirk
Chairman
NHS South Essex