The reforms to the NHS which healthcare workers have been working towards will finally come to fruition and GPs will take charge of commissioning health services for their patients from 1 April 2013.
Primary Care Trusts remain accountable until 31 March 2013, when their functions will be taken over by the newly established NHS Commissioning Board, Clinical Commissioning Groups, local authorities, NHS Commissioning Support Unit and the NHS Property Company.
This is the biggest change to how healthcare is delivered in a generation. GPs and other health professionals will now be working together with experienced NHS managers to decide how commissioning decisions are made.
NHS South Essex, which is the clustering of the two previous PCTs (NHS South East Essex and NHS South West Essex), has been working with clinicians to help them prepare to take over commissioning of local health services.
From 1 April 2013, the four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which will take over in the south of the county are:
Southend CCG
- Website: www.southendccg.nhs.uk
- e-mail: [email protected]
- phone: 01702 313620
Castle Point & Rochford CCG
- Website: www.castlepointandrochfordccg.nhs.uk
- e-mail: [email protected]
- phone: 01268 245711
Basildon and Brentwood CCG
- Website: www.basildonandbrentwoodccg.nhs.uk (goes live on 28 March)
- e-mail: [email protected]
- phone: 01268 245752
Thurrock CCG
- Website: www.mysurgerywebsite.co.uk/index.aspx?p=X30412
- e-mail: [email protected]
- phone: 01375 465810
They underwent a rigorous process to demonstrate readiness to lead commissioning of health services locally – working closely with their local GP member practices and other partners within the NHS, Local Authorities and the voluntary and community sector.
The Commissioning Board will be accountable to the Department of Health. The Essex Area Team is based in Chelmsford and will be responsible for:
- system oversight and configuration
- building partnerships
- Clinical Commissioning Group development and assurance (including allocating resources to CCGs and supporting CCGs in commissioning services on behalf of their patients)
- emergency planning, resilience and response
- quality and safety
- direct responsibility for commissioning of the following services:
- primary care
- military and prison health services
- high secure psychiatric services
- specialised services
- public health
- screening & immunisations
- services for 0-5 year olds
- secondary care dental
The Essex Area Team members will be based in Swift House, Hedgerows Business Park, Colchester Road, Springfield, Chelmsford CM2 5PF and can be contacted via switchboard 01245 398770.
From 2 April, the National NHS Commissioner Board Customer Contact Centre can be contacted by telephone 0300 311 22 33 or e-mail [email protected]. More information is available at www.commissioningboard.nhs.uk
These are part of the changes to the NHS brought about by the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
Complaints and FOI
Each CCG will have their own contact details that can be obtained via individual CCG websites for managing complaints and FOI requests for services commissioned by the CCG.
The National NHS Commissioner Board Customer Contact Centre will handle all complaints, queries and FOI requests for services commissioned by the National Commissioning Board. From the 2nd April 2013 the team can be contacted by telephone 0300 311 22 33 or e-mail [email protected]
Existing numbers for PALS services will continue to be operational and divert arrangements will be put in place to ensure that public enquiries are responded to.