PCTs miss deadlines to make service statements public

Evidence gathered by EDCM [Every Disabled Child Matters campaign] reveals that despite a clear government mandate, many PCTs [Primary Care Trusts] failed to publish a statement on their services for disabled children by 30 September 2009.

These local statements are the only source of information for parents of disabled children on whether, and how, PCTs are spending the £340 million they have been given to improve services for disabled children and children with palliative care needs.

EDCM adds that any of the PCTs that did post a statement on their website failed to include enough information to ‘facilitate an informed debate… and enable local review and challenge with partners, service users and the wider community’, which is the purpose of the statements as expressed by the Department of Health.

To find out more read the article on their website. And let us know if you think Cambridgeshire PCT's statement (published on this site) provides enough information to facilitate an informed debate with parents.