Former GP said to head up health committee in commons
Conservative MP for Totnes and former GP Sarah Wollaston has been unveiled as the new chair for the Commons health committee, labelling her key personal interests as whistleblowing and patient safety.
Dr Wollaston is hoping one area the committee can focus on is investigating “culture shifts” within the NHS with regards to patient safety and ensuring “staff can feel confident that if they were to raise a concern, that somebody will listen.” Another area on her agenda would be highlighting the Care.data programme, clarifying who has control of the information that is available. “NHS England are not just saying they understand what the public’s concerns are, but actually demonstrating that they are acting on them,” she explains.
Taking control
The medical expert also seeks to scrutinise the Better Care Fund, ensuring that the investments made will work successfully for the NHS. She says “Transferring money from the secondary system to primary services – is that actually going to translate into fewer emergency hospital admissions? Are we going to achieve genuinely better integrated services that work for people?”
She has taken a step back from funding however, claiming that responsibility for that will not fall into her remit. “It’s about saying what can be achieved with this level and holding the system to account for what is being spent and how it’s being spent.”
With 24 years experience as a qualified and working GP, Dr Wollaston has made it evident that she plans to represent patients, and not the establishment. “I see the role as using the experience you have, which gives you an understanding of the system, but to use it on behalf of the patients who are using the system,” she said.
