Partnerships

I spent a substantial part of today in meetings of partnerships, discussing health, well-being (and how to define it!), some new ideas on regenerating the Tees Valley, and more on the exciting developments for play which I heard about last week. Perhaps the most worrying part of the whole day was hearing that the Primary Care Trust will no longer have any role in providing health care, but will spend all its time and energy commissioning such care from other providers such as GPs, dentists and hospitals. So the wheel turns full circle and procurement and delivery are separated. We just have to wait and see if this latest big idea for the NHS actually gives any better service than at present.
One ray of sunshine in all the meetings was the discovery that the PCT is now serving Fairtrade coffee and tea in all its offices - more producers will be able to send children to school, develop their farms and take control of their own lives to a greater extent thanks to that decision so well done all concerned.