Engagement the priority for new GP clinical leads

Clinical engagement is the key priority for Connecting for Health’s two newly-appointed GP clinical leads.

In an interview with EHI Primary Care Dr Peter Short and Dr Manpreet Pujara have outlined their priorities and hopes for their two-year role with CfH.

Dr Short said: “What appeals to me is being an advocate for the NHS within the programme. I have been working in the frontline for many years and I want to channel that experience in this way.”

Dr Short, a GP in Buxton, Derbyshire, said he hoped the National Programme for IT’s Local Ownership programme (NLOP) would encourage PCTs and strategic health authorities to involve more GPs in NPfIT to help deliver clinical benefits for the programme.

Dr Short said he also hoped the next two years would see CfH deliver on some of its promises on the desktop with programmes like GP2GP record transfer and the Electronic Prescription Service coming to fruition.

Dr Pujara, a former chairman of the EMIS National User Group and a GP in Kent, promised to try and resolve GPs concerns about NPfIT. He added: “We want to make ourselves known and for GPs to know that we are going to listen and act on their concerns.”

Read the full interview here.