Primary care trusts (PCTs) are being urged to follow new guidance on governance arrangements for provider committees in a bid to focus on quality and patient safety.
The Appointments Commission has issued guidance, Governance Arrangements to Support PCT Provider Committees, which summarises core principles intended to underpin the committees’ membership and make-up.
Provider committees, which are part of PCTs’ boards, responsible for the operations of PCT provider arms, have been told to focus on safety and care as well as patient experience and effective outcomes.
The guidance hopes to ensure the committees are in a position to be able to independently identify, monitor and mitigate risks to patients.
Chair of Hampshire primary care trust Jonathan Montgomery said: “The guidance promotes consistency of practice and conformity with the high-standard governance that patients and the public expect of NHS organisations, while recognising that the precise form of arrangements depends on local circumstances.”
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