Society sets out its plan for NHS in Wales

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Issue: 4 June 2008
Author: MATTHEW LIMB

The CSP is recommending a new NHS structure in Wales based on ‘integrated health economies’ across primary, secondary and tertiary care.

The idea represents a challenge to some of the proposals now being consulted on by the Welsh assembly. Although the Society has backed one of the assembly’s key reform suggestions – to cut the number of local health boards from 22 to eight – it says these boards should be amalgamated with eight integrated NHS trusts to form integrated health boards.

CSP policy officer for Wales Philippa Ford said the CSP’s alternative model would put the patient at the centre of reforms and ensure seamless care across therapies and other services. She told Frontline: ‘It’s quite a brave move for the profession to be making this suggestion, but the minister has indicated that this is to be a truly open consultation and she wants to hear all views and any alternatives people may have.’ The consultation ends on 25 June.

Following a commitment to scrap the internal market, ministers have proposed:
  - direct funding for trusts and a reduced number of local boards
  - transferring community services from trusts to the boards
  - three options for establishing a national NHS board for Wales
  - revised constitutions and membership of trusts and local boards

Welsh health minister Edwina Hart said a smaller, simplified structure would improve patient care, reduce bureaucracy and establish better joint working.

But Ms Ford said transferring services from the current integrated NHS trusts into the local boards raised serious concerns.

‘The CSP does not think that this proposal is in the best interests of providing a seamless continuum of healthcare, from primary to tertiary services for patients,’ she added. She said there was a danger of physiotherapy provision fragmenting.

The Society also wants more say for AHPs under any new structure, with guaranteed representation at board level. In addition, it says the most acceptable model for a new national board would be the creation of a special health authority.

The CSP submission, drafted by a subgroup of the CSP’s Welsh Board, is posted alongside briefing papers on the Wales page of iCSP, the Society’s member networking website. Members should send comments to Philippa Ford on fordp@csp.org.uk