Went to meet Tracy Baldwin, Chief Executive of Haringey PCT (Primary Care Trust) to discuss what has been done to get the breast cancer screening program – which was stopped because of administrative errors – started again.

Sadly Tracy was unwell and so I met her deputy – Gerry. The assurance given at the meeting was that the system has had a rigorous overhaul and that the 8,000 women identified as a top priority for screening would be seen between now and October. Overall it will take three years to get the screening program back on track, and whilst there is a small number of women whose period without screening will have been extended beyond the normal three year period – the longest period of that extension will be 10 months.

They have overhauled the way the program is run – including better quality control, so there should be no repeat of the five incidents and eighteen months it took before action was taken. They are investigating every case on an individual basis to follow through and see if there are any consequences from the suspension of the screening program.

They will publish a report on the findings of their investigations in around two weeks time. We await the report.

As I was there – I took the opportunity to try and find out what was happening on the ‘consultation’ about the Primary Health Care. A local campaigner had contacted me really upset that the promised two open meetings were being held in the summer when many people would be away, the second of which is at the Muswell Hill Assembly on the 23rd July.

Having checked with Cllr Gail Engert who chairs this Assembly, it would appear that this Assembly is focusing on health issues for the older members of our community – and that is what the Trust will talk to. This brings in an update on Hornsey Hospital – but it isn’t the promised ‘open meeting’ to discuss the future of Primary Health Care in the borough.

I will write to the Trust to get the promise of these two meetings confirmed – as I, like the campaigners, fear consultation occurring in holidays or not being carried out in a way that will engage local people properly.

It is absolutely vital that the whole community has a say – as the proposals for poly-clinics which will cater for up to 50,000 patient lists will also mean that GP practises have to move in there too. Whilst the idea may be viable and produce spanking new facilities – which we welcome – I have a sneaking suspicion that funding will be needed and that the plan is to get it from renting to GP practises. And I thought that the new GP contracts were to provide services locally. It might work if the practises could stay where they were – but pay for the fantastic clinics and diagnostics available at the poly – clinics. Anyway – that is why the consultation is vital! We all love our local GP practises and we need to be sure that what is provided adds to our facilities – not detracts from them.