PRESCRIPTION PRICING AUTHORITY AND THE CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME

Early day motion 1653, tabled 15 February 2006 by John Leech (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 32 members.

That this House recognises that the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) is an efficient, cost-effective public service run by public sector staff with the interests of patients and the NHS at heart; notes that the Capacity Improvement Programme (CIP), first announced in December 2003, aimed to increase the PPA's prescription processing capacity to deal with the increased workload without the need significantly to increase staff numbers; recognises that it was assumed that roll-out of the CIP would not be completed until March 2008; notes with concern that this roll-out is now to be phased in over one year between April 2006 and March 2007 and that it is designed significantly to reduce staff numbers to meet the Business Services Agency (BSA) targets for savings; further notes that the CIP is, as yet, untested and that there is a real concern among staff that rushing in a new system poses risks to service delivery; and therefore urges the BSA to extend the roll-out of CIP to ensure the smooth and effective transfer of service delivery and to rule out compulsory redundancies.

Signatures by party: Labour 17, Liberal Democrat 15.