A PRACTISING GP with a wealth of experience and local knowledge is to head up a new committee designed to involve clinical experts at the heart of decision-making within NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

A PRACTISING GP with a wealth of experience and local knowledge is to head up a new committee designed to involve clinical experts at the heart of decision-making within NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Dr Jamie Wyllie, a GP at the Falkland Surgery in Bradwell, Great Yarmouth, will take up his position as Chairman of the new Clinical Executive Committee (CEC) when it meets for the first time on Thursday.

Dr Wyllie, who has been instrumental in setting up the committee, will chair fortnightly meetings which will offer clinical input on decisions being considered by the PCT. The CEC, which is made up of 14 members, has taken over this role from NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney's eight-member Professional Executive Committee

“This new committee is bringing practice-based and clinical commissioners right into the heart of the PCT and its decision-making processes,” said Dr Wyllie, who will chair the committee initially for a period of six months.

“It is designed to make sure clinicians are involved at the right level of every decision which is made - which is vitally important as all of the PCT's decisions have an impact on service delivery on the ground.

“Four practising GPs will sit on the committee to provide the PCT with clinical input, in turn making sure the services our patients are offered continue to be of the highest possible quality.

“We will all be using our day-to-day experiences with patients to help ensure that their needs remain right at the heart of the PCT's commissioning work.”

Dr Wyllie qualified as a doctor in 1997 after studying at Edinburgh University. He completed his training as a GP in 2001 and has worked at the Falkland Surgery ever since.

He will sit on the committee alongside clinical members Dr Ian Gibson, from the Coastal Villages Practice, Dr John Stammers from Southwold Surgery and Dr Martin Vallis of Rosedale Surgery, Carlton Colville, as well as ten members of the PCT's executive team.

“One of the traditional GP roles is to act as an advocate for their patients. As such, the committee members will have patients at the forefront of their minds when contributing to the decision-making process,” added Dr Wyllie.

“We have some clear challenges ahead, the biggest of which is the economic situation which the NHS faces over the next few years. As a result, much of our work will focus on delivering the highest quality services at the best value for money, while also maintaining innovation so that we can create new services and pathways to benefit our patients.”

Dr Chris Price, Medical Director with NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, said: “Our new Clinical Executive Committee will play a key role in making sure the voices of our clinicians are heard at every level throughout our decision-making processes.

“We look forward to working closely with them as we to drive forward continual improvements in healthcare for everyone who lives in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.”