Press Release Date: 21/08/2006
A stronger voice for patients, users and residents plus more council involvement in local NHS services is the aim of new Department of Health (DOH) proposals to change the current system of patient representation.
The Isle of Wight Council’s Policy Commission for Care, Health and Housing is meeting on Wednesday 23 August to consider the council’s response to the DOH consultation document ‘A Stronger Local Voice: A framework for creating a stronger local voice in the development of health and social care services’.
The document sets out the framework for creating more public involvement in health and social care services. The proposed changes include the abolition of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) and local patient forums. Currently, there is a patient forum for every NHS trust. In their place, local involvement networks (LINks) will be established for every council with social care responsibilities. These networks will be able to provide flexible ways for local communities to engage with health and social care organisations in flexible and responsive ways. Building on the best work of the patient forums, they will strengthen patient and user involvement in services and promote public accountability through open and transparent communication with commissioners and providers.
There are five elements to the proposed new arrangements:
• local involvement networks
• overview and scrutiny committees
• more explicit duties on providers and commissioners of services to involve and consult
• a stronger national voice
• a stronger voice in regulation
Although the consultation is national there are specific changes proposed on the Island as a result of the new combined NHS Trust which will be created on 1 October. The two existing patient forums will disappear, to be replaced by one new local involvement network to match the single NHS organisation.
The proposals will also mean more public accountability, with the new LINk establishing a specific relationship with the council’s Policy Commission for Care, Health and Housing. This reviews and scrutinises issues relating to the health and social care and will be encouraged to focus its attention on the work of commissioners to make sure decisions made reflect the needs and priorities of local communities.
Policy Commission Chair Councillor Erica Oulton said: “the policy commission will have a vital role as the ‘watchdog’ for local health and social care services, through asking questions about the quality and range of services needed, whether decisions have been based on evidence, and how patients can be involved in improving services.
“The Government is committed to giving local people more power to influence the services they receive and we welcome these proposals as they will result in more opportunities to influence local health and social care services.
“People are now much better informed about making healthy choices and decisions about their healthcare. The new arrangements will build on the work of patient forums and overview and scrutiny committees, and the engagement of NHS and social care organisations, including councils. One of the key questions for us is how the new responsibilities will be funded”.
The Policy Commission will be sending its response to the Department of Health before 7 September.
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