LOCAL doctors are set to take greater role in commissioning health services for patients in Redditch and Bromsgrove.
It comes after NHS England announced that the local clinical commissioning group of doctors will be able to take further control of the planning, strategic direction, priority setting and decision making around primary care services from April 2016.
NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG is already responsible for commissioning (buying) the majority of hospital, community and mental health services in the local area.
The new arrangements will offer a range of benefits for the public and patients, including:
1) Improved access to primary care and wider out-of-hospitals services, with more services available closer to home
2) High quality out-of-hospitals care
3) Improved health outcomes, equity of access, reduced inequalities; and
4) A better patient experience through more joined up services.
Dr Jonathan Wells, chair and clinical lead for NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, said: “Full responsibility for commissioning primary care provides us with an opportunity to better meet local needs with more joined up services for patients from GP care, to care at home, right the way through to hospital services.”
In other news, the board of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is moving into 2016 with a new face with top doctor Dr William Tunnicliffe, a Worcester resident, joining as an associate non-executive director while Lynne Todd steps down from her non-executive position.
