NHS White Paper
Major changes to the NHS have been proposed by the new government.
The White Paper 'Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS', published in July 2010, sets out plans to give more power to patients and health professionals.
The vision builds on the core values and principles of the NHS - a comprehensive service, available to all, free at the point of use, based on need, not ability to pay. It sets out how the NHS will:
- put patients at the heart of everything the NHS does;
- focus on continuously improving those things that really matter to patients - the outcome of their healthcare;
- and empower and liberate clinicians – such as GPs - to innovate, with the freedom to focus on improving healthcare services
The proposals include the phasing out of primary care trusts (PCTs) such as NHS Coventry by 2013, with their responsibilities moving to local authorities, new GP-led Commissioning bodies and a new national Commissioning board.
Once the proposals are agreed by the Government, NHS Coventry will be working to make sure local people are kept up to date and informed with the changes.
Transforming Community Services
Community services currently run by NHS Coventry (also known at the PCT) will be integrated with the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust this year.
The Partnership Trust currently provides mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Services that will transfer will include teams that focus on providing community health services in Coventry to tackle long term conditions, rehabilitation and child and family services. Community nursing, health visitors and specialist services such as sexual health and the Walk in Centre will be included.
Patients should not notice any change to their services, with a seamless continuity for those receiving care.
For more information, please visit www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk
- Commissioning
Process by which the health needs of the local population are identified. Priorities for investment are set and appropriate services are purchased and evaluated. Primary Care Trusts do not provide all of the healthcare services needed by the local population, they buy-in or commission services from other provider organisations. Typically this includes local hospitals.