Have your say on future plans for local health services
Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Shropshire Council are encouraging residents to attend one of three local meetings to find out more about their plans and priorities for local health services in 2013/14.
As part of the Government’s reforms of the NHS, Health and Well-being Boards are being established within local authority areas. Shropshire Shadow Health and Well-being Board is a partnership between Shropshire Council and the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), and its role is to oversee how local NHS and social care budgets are spent. A key role for the board is to develop a Health and Well-being Strategy that sets out the priorities for improving the health and well-being of the population of Shropshire.
Another part of the health reforms is to create CCGs to commission NHS services. The CCGs will take on the role of Primary Care Trusts, in designing and buying a wide range of health services, for instance:
- Hospital services
- Cancer treatment
- Community services, such as district nursing and health visiting
- Mental health services
- and much more
At the three meetings, the CCG and Shropshire Council hope to share their future plans with the public and also hear their comments and suggestions. People are being encouraged to come along to comment on the draft Health and Well-being Strategy and influence what services the CCG should commission.
Dr Caron Morton, accountable officer of the Shropshire CCG, and member of the Shadow Health and Well-being Board, said:
“We are thinking ahead to next March (2013) when we will be responsible for deciding how the local NHS budget can best be used to benefit local residents. We want to involve the public in our decisions, and at these meetings we hope to be able to get their thoughts and comments on our proposals. Following months of work, we know there is some work that would benefit local residents, including: Improving the quality and experience of services for patients with dementia, including the use of the patient passport ‘Who I am’.”
Ann Hartley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health and well-being, said:
“The Health and Well-being Strategy sets out our commitment to improving the health and well-being of people in Shropshire, and reducing inequalities in health by working in partnership.
“We are committed to working together to deliver more joined-up and efficient services that meet the health needs of our communities. We want people to tell us if they agree with the priorities put forward, to help ensure that the services our residents receive are what they want and need from health and social care.”
The three meetings will take place at:
- Thursday 19 July 2012, 2pm, Craven Arms Community Centre, Shrewsbury Road, Craven Arms
- Monday 23 July 2012, 6pm, Oswestry Cricket Club, Morda Road, Oswestry
- Wednesday 25 July 2012, 6pm, Lord Hill Hotel, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury.
To book a free place contact Karen Higgins on 01743 277500 or email karen.higgins@shropshirepct.nhs.uk
Further information
Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group has been set up in response to the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill passed earlier this year.
When Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are abolished at the end of March 2013, CCGs will be responsible for the vast majority of PCT services. CCGs’ primary role will be to purchase (commission) local health services, eg from hospitals, etc. Shropshire Council will be responsible for the public health functions currently undertaken by the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust.
There will be two CCGs in Shropshire – that correspond with the local council boundaries (and current PCT boundaries); a CCG for Shropshire area covering all 45 GP practices, and a CCG for Telford and Wrekin covering all 22 GP practices.
