Main Legislative Changes

PCTs and SHAs will be abolished

Health and Wellbeing Boards will be established to improve integration between NHS and LA services

CCGs will take over commissioning from PCTs and will work with the new NHS Commissioning Board

Monitor will be established to regulate providers of NHS services in the interests of patients and prevent anti-competitive behaviour

The voice of patients will be strengthened through HealthWatch, and local HealthWatch organisations

Public Health England will lead on public health at the national level, and LAs will do so at a local level

Key Amendments

New duties to promote integrated care have been placed on key bodies including the NHS Commissioning Board, Monitor, and CCGs

CCGs will take on their new responsibilities when they have been authorised to do so

Several changes have been made to widen clinical involvement in commissioning, with CCG governance arrangements also strengthened and a requirement added for them to publish a members’ register of interests to meet concerns about conflicts of interest

Monitor will not now “promote competition”

Amendments have been made to rule out competition on price and additional  safeguards have been added to reduce the emphasis on competition

The Secretary of State retains ministerial accountability to parliament for the provision of the health service

There is an emphasis on the need to promote research within the NHS and strengthen requirements to promote education and training

Commissioning is a complex set of functions, processes and tasks.  CCGs have the freedom to decide how they undertake their commissioning functions and the type of commissioning support they need.  The challenge for CCGs is to do it better and more efficiently. This can only be achieved by doing things significantly differently, and not just copying what has gone before.  CCGs will need support so that they can make the right commissioning decisions.  These must lead to better health outcomes and reduction in health inequities and inequalities in the populations that they serve.  We know that there is a body of skills that have been developed within the NHS and other public and private sectors to assist and support CCGs with commissioning. At Maxhealth People, we are ready to support your commissioning needs and bring added value to your organisation.

Maxhealth People has access to many jobs in the healthcare sector, specialising in management and senior management positions. Whether you are thinking or looking for a role with NHS, Local Authority, Private Healthcare or Not For Profit organisations we will help you to identify the perfect opportunity.

If you do not have the time to search for your next job, just upload your CV now. We are in regular contact with the top recruiters.

Thinking about recruiting? Maxhealth People is the ideal place to advertise your health services vacancy. The initial advert will be free of charge for the first month. Ring one of our specialist recruitment consultants on 0845 5337037 to find out more details of this time-limited offer.

Unfortunately some of our health and social care system falls behind many of our EU neighbours on a number of key health measures, such as cancer survival rates.

There is no doubt that our health and care system needs to deliver a much improved service with better outcomes for patients.

The Department of Health is right in stating that:

1. There needs to be more focus on improving quality, as poor quality care costs more money – if hospital acquired infections are not tackled, or if there are no steps to prevent falls among older people, it can cost the NHS billions of pounds every year

2. Services need to be joined up more effectively – patients who need support from both health and care professionals too often find their needs aren’t met, because health and social care professionals don’t work together locally

3. About half of all deaths in this country are preventable, so more needs to be done to encourage people to look after their own health by eating well and exercising more

4. Health costs are rising because of an ageing population and advances in medical technology so steps need to be taken now to cut waste and improve performance

More details are at: http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/context/quickguide/

Key NHS staff survey findings

• - 77% of NHS staff have had appraisals in the last 12 months (69% in 2009)
• - 41% have good opportunities to develop in their work (compared with 44% in 2009)
• - 28% will look for a new job in the next 12 months (up from 22% in 2009)

More details at: http://www.cqc.org.uk/aboutcqc/howwedoit/engagingwithproviders/nhsstaffsurveys/staffsurvey2010.cfm

False Economy this week has shown that massive job cuts are looming as the NHS attempts to make efficiency savings. They say that PCTs have started cutting thousands of managerial and frontline clinical posts, with over 50,000 professionals losing their jobs.

More details can be found at: http://falseeconomy.org.uk

At at recent BMA event it was agreed that the most likely result of the NHS reforms would be an increase in health inequalities. This will happen because of a widening gap in the social determinants of health, but also as a result of the local - and therefore piecemeal - solutions where it is national action that is necessary.

As the NHS landscape changes, let's make it our priority to mitigate this major unintended consequence of the NHS reforms.