NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) established

[megilleland]

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG established

Today the four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Herefordshire and Worcestershire merged to become a single organisation.

NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG replaces NHS Herefordshire CCG, NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, NHS South Worcestershire CCG and NHS Wyre Forest CCG.

The merger follows a period of engagement last year with the public, staff, providers and other key stakeholders. It has also been supported by GP practices in Herefordshire and Worcestershire as well as each former CCGs’ Governing Bodies.

The merger does not affect any health or care services provided by NHS organisations or local councils across the area, but does reduce the duplication of roles and governance that previously existed behind the scenes within the four organisations.

It is also consistent with the expectation set out in the NHS Long Term Plan that there should be more streamlined commissioning arrangements in place across the Herefordshire and Worcestershire footprint. 

Simon Trickett, Chief Executive of NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG said: “Clearly we are currently working in some unprecedented and challenging circumstances and our immediate focus remains on responding to the Covid-19 outbreak. Our main priority is, and always will be, our patients and the health and wellbeing of our local population.

“Having already set up combined governance and decision-making arrangements across the four CCGs, this merger was the next logical step. We will not lose sight of the different needs of our local communities and we will continue to work with local organisations so that people’s needs, views and experiences remain at the heart of our decision making.”

A public engagement exercise conducted across Herefordshire and Worcestershire earlier this year drew support for proposals to bring together the four CCGs, with over half of the respondents in favour of the creation of a single CCG.

A subsequent ballot of GP member practices in each of the four CCG areas drew even stronger support, with 94% of practices across Herefordshire and Worcestershire in favour of a merger.

Further information, why has this happened?
The NHS Long Term Plan presents the opportunity for all NHS organisations to radically change the way in which they work both internally and in partnership with one another to help support the development of Integrated Care Systems.

For CCGs, there is an expectation that by April 2021 every Integrated Care System will have more streamlined commissioning arrangements to enable a single set of commissioning decisions at the Integrated Care System level. For Herefordshire and Worcestershire this will involve moving from four CCGs to a leaner, more strategic single CCG for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

In achieving this there will be a change to the role of the CCG itself, shifting from the traditional model of commissioning to one with a greater focus on strategic commissioning on a bigger geographical footprint and making shared decisions with providers on how to best use resources, design services and improve population health. The CCG will also have a role in supporting providers to partner with local government and other community organisations at county or ‘place’ level, and in ensuring that GPs and community services are supported to deliver at their local level.

In Herefordshire and Worcestershire this will also include a shift of our valuable clinical leadership resources, realigning them into roles where they will be better able to influence service delivery through developing Primary Care Networks and the new investment being aligned to these groups.

Information that was held previously by NHS Herefordshire CCG, NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, NHS South Worcestershire CCG and NHS Wyre Forest CCG was transferred to NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG on 1 April 2020.

The new CCG is the the new data controller. Any questions about the use of data (including patient data) by the new CCG should be directed to mlcsu.ig@nhs.net.

 

Looks like more financial savings, planned before Coronavirus, will affect the care of everyone in both counties.

[Victor Wright]

This is interesting.