Agenda item

Update on NHS Reforms

Janet Atherton, Acting Chief Executive, NHS Sefton, to make a presentation.

Minutes:

Further to Minute No. 84 of 25th January 2011, the Committee received a presentation from Dr Janet Atherton, Acting Chief Executive, NHS Sefton, providing an update on the recent NHS reforms.

 

The presentation included the following:-

 

Department of Health Policy

  • Operating Framework 2011-12;
  • Health & Social Care Bill;
  • Public Health White Paper; and
  • NHS Chief Executive transition letters.

 

The Operating Framework 2011-12

The core purpose remained as the delivery of improved quality, by improving safety, effectiveness and patient experience.

 

Key areas:

  • NHS Reform;
  • Quality Innovation Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) progress;
  • Maintenance of existing performance/improvements; and
  • Specific improvements based on new priorities.

 

The Operating Framework: New Key Commitments

  • Increasing overall numbers of health visitors by 4,200, by April 2015;
  • Family Nurse Partnership programme – to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable first time teenage mothers and their children;
  • Establishment of the Cancer Drugs Fund – operational from April 2011;
  • Military and veterans health;
  • Guidance to be published shortly on services for people with autism;
  • Progress against dementia services; and
  • Progress against carers strategy.

 

The Operating Framework:Areas Identified for Improvement:-

•         Healthcare for people with learning disabilities;

•         Children and young people’s physical and mental health;

•         Diabetes;

•         Sharing non-confidential information to tackle violence;

•         Regional trauma networks; and

•         Respiratory disease.

 

The Transition to the New System

  • GP consortia;
  • Health and Well-being Board;
  • Local Healthwatch;
  • PCT clusters;
  • NHS Commissioning Board;
  • Provider reform         - Foundation Trusts;

                                                - Any willing Provider; and

                                                - Monitor + CQC as regulators.

 

The Timetable for Transition:2011-12: Learning and Planning for Roll-Out

  • Health and Social Care Bill – parliamentary process;
  • QIPP delivery;
  • PCTs to form ‘sub regional clusters by June 2011;
  • NHS Commissioning Board in shadow form;
  • Local Health & Wellbeing Boards (H&WB) in shadow form;
  • Public Health England in shadow form;
  • Full coverage of country by prospective consortia; and
  • Pathfinders for H&W Boards and local Healthwatch.

 

The Timetable for Transition:2012 – 13: Full Preparatory Year

  • QIPP delivery;
  • Strategic Health Authorities (SHA)s abolished 31st March 2012;
  • NHS Commissioning Board and new Monitor in place;
  • PCTs to become accountable to the NHS Commissioning Board;
  • All consortia either fully or conditionally authorised; and
  • Public Health England to take on full responsibilities.

 

The Timetable for Transition:2013 -14

  • QIPP delivery;
  • New system fully established;
  • H&WB boards active;
  • PCTs abolished March 2013 – commissioning support as either social enterprise or joint venture; and
  • All NHS Trusts to become Foundation Trusts by March 2014.

 

PCT Clusters

  • ‘Sub-regional’ clusters;
  • Single Executive Teams by June 2011;
  • No statutory mergers - PCTs to retain existing allocations; and
  • Relevant staff working closer with GP consortia, Local Authority or Commissioning Support Units within clusters, based on existing roles.

 

PCT Clusters: Purpose

  • Sustain capability and capacity;
  • Maintain financial control, performance, quality;
  • Support provider organisations in reform; and
  • Platform for commissioning support and roles in new organisations.

 

Clusters: Overview

A single executive team managing a cluster of PCTs by June 2011 until PCT abolition in March 2013.

Clusters:

  • to have oversight and management of contracts and Operating Framework requirements;
  • to develop capacity and capacity of local GP commissioning consortia; and
  • ensure effective leadership of cluster-wide QIPP plans.

 

Clusters: Process

  • Executive positions to be recruited from a regional pool (determined by SHA);
  • Management structure of cluster and constituent PCTs to be decided by Chief Executive;
  • Boards – governance models to be decided locally using DH guidance;
  • Locally – Cluster likely to include Sefton, Liverpool, Knowsley, possibly Halton & St Helens; and
  • Chair and Chief Executive in place end of March, with rest following by June 2011.

 

Members of the Committee asked questions of Dr. Atherton regarding the NHS reforms.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)       Dr. Atherton be thanked for her informative presentation;

 

(2)       the presentation be received; and

 

(3)       NHS Sefton be requested to report back to this Committee as further information emerges on the NHS reforms.