By Laura Passi
GP commissioners will face some tough challenges in addressing health inequalities in the capital, a summit led by London mayor Boris Johnson has heard.
The first Health Leadership Summit held yesterday, saw Mr Johnson, GP leaders and PCT managers meet to discuss the impact of the Government's health reforms on London.
In this address to the summit (see video below), the London mayor focused on his vision of London - a village with green space in which children and adults can exercise and ‘burn off carbohydrates'.
‘We can work together to come up with new ideas today to reduce the gross health inequalities that still exist in our city and deal with the healthcare changes coming down the track,' he said.
Also speaking at the summit, Dr Howard Freeman, associate medical director of NHS London, told the summit that many GP's and health leaders were focusing now on the practicalities of the transition and were ‘eager to forge ahead'.
He said GPs in London felt 'generally positive about commissioning' but that the city needs to address issues that challenge the city.
These includes developing new leaders ‘who are getting on a bit' and dealing with London finances.
Nicolaus Henke, global director of consultants McKinsey, echoed this message, and describes the financial situation in London as ‘the ugly.'
He said: ‘Over the next three years, £1 in every £7 needs to be cut,' he said.
Mayor of London addresses Health Leadership summit Mayor of London, Boris Johnson
