Health & Social Care Changes

The Health and Social Care Bill is currently going through Parliament. There are several changes to the Health and Social Care system which are part of the Bill.

Some of the main changes and developments are within NHS and PCT including the creation of Clinical Commissioning Boards (previously reffered to as GP Consortia), creation of Health and Wellbeing Board and HealthWatch.

VCS is involved in the development of the local structures. For involvement with Clinical Commissioning Boards contact your local CVS - RVA, HVA or 3VA. For Health and Wellbeing Board and Healthwatch read below or contact SpeakUp.

Health & Social Care Bill explained (Department of Health)

HealthWatch - please read more.

Health and Wellbeing Board

This Bill requires the County Council to establish a Health and Wellbeing Board. Because ESCC is a Department of Health ‘early implementer’ there will be a shadow board in place by September 2011. The Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board will act as an advisory body to the County Council’s Cabinet, Clinical Commissioning Groups and NHS Sussex in the context of relevant sections of the Health and Social Care Bill while also increasing the local democratic accountability.

There has been a consulation on the development of the shadow board, please read more here.

VCS has got one representative at the Shadow Board - please do not hesitate to contact her directly - Marie Casey.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

To read more about the Trust's Clinical Commissioning Strategy and resulting proposals for redesign/reconfiguration of local health services please click HERE. You will find informatiion about pre-consultation opportunities for VCS organisations.

JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assesment) - please read more.

Local NHS

News from local NHS - to receive regular News directly please contact PCTs’ communications team on 01273 403550, email: Jamie.whitburn@esdwpct.nhs.uk or Madeleine.mayhew@esdwpct.nhs.uk.

PCTs (Primary Care Trusts) have joined together and formed a Cluster covering West Sussex, Brighton&Hove and East Sussex.

News from PCT Cluster Board - monthly updates are availabe and sent out by e-mail, please contact the NHS team above.