Monday, July 14, 2008
Your good health!
ALL CHANGE (AGAIN) WITH OUR LOCAL HEALTH SERVICES ??
Some years ago we had one large Health Authority and a smaller Trust (Forest Healthcare) - based at Whipps Cross - delivering our services.
Then it was decided by Government to "end the purchaser/provider split".
So (about 10 years ago) the new pattern locally gradually evolved into:
a Primary Care Trust, delivering and commissioning services; a separate hospital Trust specifically for the delivery of services at Whipps Cross; a Mental Health Trust for delivering Mental Health services across 4 boroughs.
Now it has been decided to separate the delivery and commissioning of services again!
The Primary Care Trust will take on a commissioning role, and all services, other than at Whipps Cross and Mental Health, will be delivered by an "Arms Length Management Organisation" (yet to be decided upon and set up) which might work across 4 or more boroughs.
So instead of the former LARGE Health Authority years ago commissioning, and a smaller Trust delivering, we shall end up with a LARGE organisation delivering and a smaller Trust commissioning ! (Whipps Cross and the Mental Health Trust (becoming a Foundation Trust) will continue with their present functions).
Cllr. John Beanse, Vice-Chair of Waltham Forest Health Scrutiny, said:
"Will there ever be any end to reorganisation and restructuring in the Health Service - and will there ever be a proper focus on the experience and VOICE of the patient?"
Some years ago we had one large Health Authority and a smaller Trust (Forest Healthcare) - based at Whipps Cross - delivering our services.
Then it was decided by Government to "end the purchaser/provider split".
So (about 10 years ago) the new pattern locally gradually evolved into:
a Primary Care Trust, delivering and commissioning services; a separate hospital Trust specifically for the delivery of services at Whipps Cross; a Mental Health Trust for delivering Mental Health services across 4 boroughs.
Now it has been decided to separate the delivery and commissioning of services again!
The Primary Care Trust will take on a commissioning role, and all services, other than at Whipps Cross and Mental Health, will be delivered by an "Arms Length Management Organisation" (yet to be decided upon and set up) which might work across 4 or more boroughs.
So instead of the former LARGE Health Authority years ago commissioning, and a smaller Trust delivering, we shall end up with a LARGE organisation delivering and a smaller Trust commissioning ! (Whipps Cross and the Mental Health Trust (becoming a Foundation Trust) will continue with their present functions).
Cllr. John Beanse, Vice-Chair of Waltham Forest Health Scrutiny, said:
"Will there ever be any end to reorganisation and restructuring in the Health Service - and will there ever be a proper focus on the experience and VOICE of the patient?"
# posted by John Beanse @ 8:51 AM 
