03/07/2006 - Primary Care Trust Scrutiny Committee has new Chairman

Councillor Nick Atkinson is to be elected as the new Chairman of the Welwyn Hatfield Primary Care Trust Scrutiny Committee at the next meeting on Monday 3 July at 7.30pm.

Cllr Atkinson, who represents the Hatfield West ward, has been a member of the committee for 2 years and is also Welwyn Hatfield Council’s “sports champion.”

The Committee was established in 2004 when government gave the statutory power to local authorities to scrutinise local NHS services.

Health scrutiny aims to improve services, ensure accountability and actively involve the people and communities of Welwyn Hatfield in the process.

Cllr Atkinson said: “I am delighted to be taking on this new role and look forward to working to improve health services for local people.

To that end, I would like the public to know I am as dismayed as them by the news of NHS job cuts. Frontline services such as doctors and nurses are vitally important to the NHS, and I fear that this is the area that will be decimated by job losses.

To function on behalf of the community I ask that people let me know their concerns & ideas about local health services.”

Ends