Two CCGs have been given NHS England’s approval to change their boundaries to make commissioning local services more efficient.
NHS Lancashire North CCG and NHS Cumbria CCG will be redrawn to create a new NHS Morecambe Bay CCG and NHS North Cumbria CCG.
The boundary changes are a response to regional transformation plans that saw Cumbria split between two sustainability and transformation footprints, with the north in West, North and East Cumbria STP, and the south in Lancashire and South Cumbria STP.
Two CCGs have been given NHS England’s approval to change their boundaries to make commissioning local services more efficient.
NHS Lancashire North CCG and NHS Cumbria CCG will be redrawn to create a new NHS Morecambe Bay CCG and NHS North Cumbria CCG.
The boundary changes are a response to regional transformation plans that saw Cumbria split between two sustainability and transformation footprints, with the north in West, North and East Cumbria STP, and the south in Lancashire and South Cumbria STP.
The two new CCGs are also built around their integrated care organisations. Morecambe Bay set up a primary and acute care system in 2015, when west, north and east Cumbria also launched a success regime initiative.
The Morecambe Bay CCG will cover North Lancashire along with South Lakes and Furness in South Cumbria, while the North Cumbria CCG will cover Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland and Eden.
The boundary change will also alter the functions undertaken by local offices of NHS England in Cumbria and Lancashire.
From 1 April, South Cumbrian contracts that are currently managed by the Cumbria and North East team will transfer to NHS England’s Lancashire team, which will become known as NHS England (Lancashire and South Cumbria).
In a statement the CCGs said the changes would make commissioning ‘simpler and more efficient’, and improve integrated care in the region.
Peter Rooney, chief operating officer for NHS Cumbria CCG, said: ‘Increasingly Cumbria has been seen as being part of two distinct healthcare systems. Because of this, we looked at a number of options and agreed the boundary change was the most appropriate way forward for Cumbria and North Lancashire.’
Andrew Bennett, chief officer NHS Lancashire North CCG, said: ‘We have worked very closely with our colleagues in Cumbria in recent years and believe these changes make sense for the communities we serve in North Cumbria and Morecambe Bay.’
