HealthWatch Devon: National update

Mark Woodcock

Head of Engagement

NHS South of England

Summary

• Current national position;• Recent developments• Recap on the NHS reforms• What Local HealthWatch will do and why is

it different?• What should the local authority be doing?• What should the local community be doing?• Next steps?

Current national position

• Creation of HealthWatch subject to legislation;• Abolition of Local Involvement Networks;• Health & Social Care Bill in the House of Lords:

• Report stage debated in February and March;• Third Reading on Monday 19 March;• Royal Assent, April 2012.

• Regulations will follow to bring into effect Local HealthWatch from April 2013;

• HealthWatch England, will be established at the Care Quality Commission, October 2012.

Recent developments

• A new start date for Local HealthWatch, April 2013;

• Lords Amendments on organisational form;• Funding for HealthWatch Pathfinders;• Funding, through local authorities, for start

up costs for Local HealthWatch, £3.2M;• Learning Sets established via Regional

Voice (South West Forum).

Where are we on the NHS Reforms?

• NHS Commissioning Board Special Health Authority, now in place in shadow form:– HQ in Leeds; Four Sectors and Local Offices;– Fulfil the Mandate of the Secretary of State;– Support local commissioning groups;– Directly commission:

• Specialist Regional and national services, i.e. Burns

• Primary Care services, i.e. GPs, Dentists etc;

Clinical Commissioning Groups

• 227 now established in shadow form across England, most co-terminus with local Social Services, but not all;

• Commission secondary healthcare for their population;

• Employ people directly to deliver functions;• Commission support from shared services

to help CCGs operate, i.e. finance, workforce.

Health and Well Being Board

• Established in shadow form in all local authorities;

• Will oversee the production of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for the area;

• Develop a Joint Well Being Strategy based on that assessment against which Clinical Commissioning Groups will commission health services to meet that need;

• Local HealthWatch is a full member of the Board

What Local HealthWatch will do?

• Local HealthWatch will continue with the existing LINK functions:– Gather local views on health and social care;– Engage with local communities and

individuals;– working with the NHS and Local Authority on

improving care pathways;– Visiting services to monitor delivery.

What extra will Local HealthWatch do?

• A new set of roles include:– Individual advocacy on complaints;– Signposting on advice and help to make

choices in health and social care;– Membership of the Health and Well Being

Board.

• Being a more effective organisation as a Corporate Body exercising statutory functions

What should the Local Authority be doing?

• Engaging with local communities on the shape of the Local HealthWatch;

• Developing a specification and overseeing a procurement or grant funded process;

• Developing existing monitoring processes;

• Considering roles and responsibilities in relation to Health & Well Being Boards.

What should the local community be doing?

• Engaging on what they want as a strong Local HealthWatch;

• What shape the organisation could take;

• What skills or people are required:– Professionals?– Volunteers?

• How to carry out the functions;

• Track record.

Next Steps

• Preparation for bidding;

• Building relationships;

• Learning from others;

• Being as clear as you can on the prospective role: – what’s going to be expected of HealthWatch

and how can it be delivered?