CCGs join for first ever local services review

Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be working with Monitor, the Trust Development Authority (TDA) and NHS England on an innovative review of local services. 

Over the next six months, the organisations will look at what services are currently available, what people living in Bedfordshire need and want from their healthcare and how GP commissioners can meet those needs. 

It will begin in December and run through to May next year when a final report will make recommendations for the future make up of local health services. 

Milton Keynes CCG and Bedfordshire CCG have joined forces because, as well as being neighbours, they share similar challenges. These include issues around sustainable hospital services, growing demographic pressures and the need to ensure safe, high quality services are consistently delivered seven days a week.

The national agencies, Monitor, the NHS Trust Development Authority and NHS England share the concerns raised by the clinical commissioning groups that the current pattern of health and care services may not be sustainable or sufficient to meet the needs of patients in future.

Milton Keynes CCG chief officer Jeannie Ablett said: “The current problems with Bedford and Milton Keynes hospital trusts mean we need to make a change in order to ensure first rate health services for the people of Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire. Our populations are changing and people want health services delivered closer to home. This study will focus on the needs of patients and families and how they might be best served by their hospitals.”

Bedfordshire CCG clinical lead Dr Paul Hassan said:  “Our focus remains on providing high quality, safe services close to home but I believe this process also gives us an opportunity to end years of speculation and secure a future for Bedford Hospital.”

The review will look at which health services local commissioners feel they need to provide to meet their population’s needs and will assess what the impact could be on patients of any proposed changes in the way health services are provided.

Jonathan Guppy, interim senior enforcement director at Monitor said: “Monitor, along with the national partners, is pleased to be able to support the local commissioners and health trusts in this important and innovative strategic study. It is the first of its kind and will bring together a wide range of expertise from across the health sector.”

A full report will be released in the summer of 2014.