Labour’s Assembly Health Minister Edwina Hart today unveiled plans to simplify the NHS structure in Wales and meet the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to end the internal market.
Following a 12-week consultation on changing the structure of the NHS in Wales, the emerging view is to create single local health organisations that would be responsible for delivering all healthcare services within a geographical area, rather than the Trust and Local Health Board system currently operating. There was also agreement that there should be one organisation serving North Wales. Therefore, the Welsh Assembly Government will consult further in the Autumn on creating seven new organisations to take on the functions currently carried out by both NHS Trusts and the 22 Local Health Boards.
A proposal for a new National Board was supported, which would be responsible for planning and possibly funding NHS services on an all-Wales basis. However, the Minister will consider the detail of how such a board would work over the summer. There was also general consensus about the strengthening of the scrutiny role of Community Health Councils (CHCs) in Wales, and therefore the future number and role of CHCs will also form part of these consultation proposals.
Edwina Hart said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to carefully consider our consultation and to respond. In fact, we received more than 800 responses from individuals and organisations. All were very positive and constructive. The overwhelming view from both the responses and the consultation events was that I should go further than initially suggested. I am pleased to accept this view and will be consulting further in the Autumn on the details of these proposals.”
“My aim is to free up as much money as possible to channel directly to frontline services to improve patient care. By ending the internal market in the NHS and having one organisation to deliver all healthcare services, we will have a more joined up approach to deliver care, which will benefit patients and staff. I am prepared to take a little more time on these proposals to ensure we have them right and have an NHS structure in place to last us for the next 20 to 30 years.”
