Harriett Baldwin called on Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to emphasise front line health services leading to improved county stroke care provision. The MP quizzed the Secretary of State on plans for reforming local healthcare services allowing local GPs greater involvement in commissioning key front line services. She asked: “Can the Secretary of State confirm that under his proposed reforms, local clinical practitioners will have much more influence on the location of stroke services rather than under the current situation where management can make somewhat arbitrary changes.” Mr Lansley replied that he “was looking for the commissioning consortia to lead from the primary care perspective, on behalf of patients, but to work in commissioning services with their specialist colleagues. He added: “Of course, where stroke is concerned the Stroke Clinical Research Network has formed a very strong basis upon which that kind of commissioning activity can take place. “Over the last year we have seen a significant improvement in performance in relation to the response to Transient Ischemic Attack and I hope we will see continuing improvements in the future.” Harriett added after the debate: "There have been rumours that stroke care may be moved by management "at a stroke" from Worcester to Redditch. “How will that help the delivery of front line health care for my own constituents in the west of the County? Is this rumoured move part of a clinical decision or simply an arbitrary management-led change?" FULL TEXT: Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): A crucial front-line service is the provision of stroke care. Can the Secretary of State confirm that under his proposed reforms, local clinical practitioners will have much more influence over the location of those stroke services than in the current situation, when management can make somewhat arbitrary changes? Mr Lansley: Yes, I can confirm that. We are looking for commissioning consortia not only to lead from a primary care perspective on behalf of patients, but to work on commissioning services with their specialist colleagues. Of course, the stroke research network has formed a strong basis upon which such commissioning activity can take place. There have been many improvements in stroke care. Over the last year, we have seen a significant improvement in performance in relation to responses to transient ischaemic attack, and I hope we continue to see improvements in future. | Hansard