KEEPING IN THE LOOP - ISSUE 2

An update from the East Sussex Transition Team

Stakeholder Engagement

As part fo the process of planning healthcare, a discussion document was published in May entitled Creating an NHS fit for the future. It explains why change is needed and describes potential benefits for patients if some services were organised differently. This has led us into a discussion phase with local NHS staff and key stakeholders.

Three stakeholder discussion events, held in June, were well attended and provided a wealth of discussion, comments and ideas. All of these will feed into the plans that are developed. A feedback bulletin is circulated along with this newsletter detailing the events.

The discussion phase continues, with members of the Transition Team continuing to meet with a wide range of stakeholders and staff. To date 74 meetings have been arranged with both local NHS staff and external stakeholders including: Rother Seniors Forum, Newhaven Community Development Association, Hellingly Parish Council, GP Management Forum (South), Healthier Hastings Partnership Board and Sussex Heart Network. (Note from Sussex Mad: None of them sound mental health service user related?)

Comments, concerns and questions are recorded at all the meetings and these will be reflected upon and will help shape our thinking as plans are developed.

In preparation for a possible consultation phase, the Transition Team, in tandem with the Strategic Health Authority, will be holding a Co-Design Event, which aims to bring a small group of key stakeholders together to design the process for consultation and decision-making should this be necessary. This event is planned for 16th August.

Sustainability Plan

This plan will describe how the whole system of healthcare will work in the future to ensure clinical viability and affordability. Work in progress has been shared with the Strategic Health Authority and a number of comments have been received which will be taken into consideration as the plan is progressed. There is still plenty of work to do on this and meetings continue to ensure that the plan will be robust when completed. There is an expectation that work on the on the Sustainability Plan will be formally shared with the Strategic Health Authority by the autumn.

If the final version of the Sustainability Plan indicates significant change to services, then formal consultation will be required (see Stakeholders Engagement section - Co-Design Event).

New PCTs - management arrangements announced

Following the announcement of two new PCTs for East Sussex, the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) was asked by the Department of Health to work with stakeholders to consider whether shared management team arrangements would benefit the new PCTs and if so whether there should be shared Professional Executive Committees. This review was carried out by Marianne Griffiths, Director of Commissioning and Delivery and Deputy Chief Executive of the new South East Coast Strategic Health Authority.

On Thursday 13 July, the SHA's Chief Executive, Candy Morris wrote out to local NHS organisations and stated that after careful consideration, by herself and SHA Chair, Graham Eccles, of Marianne's report, they have decided that:

There will be one Chief Executive and team for the two new PCTs, which becomes operational on 1st October 2006

Each PCT will have its own Chair and Board

Each PCT should have its own Professional Executive arrangements

An announcement on the appointment of the new East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT and Hastings and Rother PCT Chairs is imminent. Interviews for the Chief Executive were held earlier in July and appointment announcements are expected in August.

In the meantime work is underway to ensure business continuity and a smooth transition into new PCTs on 1st October 2006. Toni Wilkinson is leading this work on behalf of East Sussex.

For more information please visit:

www.surreysussexfitforthefuture.nhs.uk

Please note: This newsletter was sent to Sussex Mad to circulate, Sussex Mad may or may not agree with the contents.