Health Observer Update
Two items of recent interest:
1. Yesterday a further 8 NHS Foundation Trusts were created, making 48 in total. A further 21 are in the pipeline. Within the next 3-5 years I suspect the Epsom and St Helier Trust will be a Foundation Trust or may be thinking of merging with one, as this structure becomes the broad Arms-length operation of acute and other forms of NHS care. This, far more than BHCH is likely to lead to a future new CCH for the area. Sutton Council, through its actions may influence this through its planning policies. In the coming months the Core Planning policies for the Council will give the public an opportunity to remind the Council that 57% of the public prefer the St Helier site to Sutton. Will Sutton Council listen when it develops its planning policies?
2. William Moyes, the head of Monitor, the Foundation Trust regulatory body, hinted that Foundation status, may soon be given to Community Hospitals or groups of district nurses, chiropdists and other health professionals providing services to primary care Trusts. In Sutton we are not so well advanced down this road, but if you go to the former EEMS PCT area over the border in Surrey you will find groups like EDICS - A group of GP's running services in Epsom. Is this the same as Epsom Day surgery group, who have been contracted to run a treatement centre and outpatients department in Cobham? There is also Central Surrey Healthcare social enterprise providing some community services. Over the coming years we are likely to see similar groups in the Merton and Sutton area, which may then entrench their contractual position by becoming foundations. Will there be any public scrutiny of the PCT service contracts to be let, prior to any decision? This is a potentially big issue for a future health scrutiny committee if it becomes proactive.
1. Yesterday a further 8 NHS Foundation Trusts were created, making 48 in total. A further 21 are in the pipeline. Within the next 3-5 years I suspect the Epsom and St Helier Trust will be a Foundation Trust or may be thinking of merging with one, as this structure becomes the broad Arms-length operation of acute and other forms of NHS care. This, far more than BHCH is likely to lead to a future new CCH for the area. Sutton Council, through its actions may influence this through its planning policies. In the coming months the Core Planning policies for the Council will give the public an opportunity to remind the Council that 57% of the public prefer the St Helier site to Sutton. Will Sutton Council listen when it develops its planning policies?
2. William Moyes, the head of Monitor, the Foundation Trust regulatory body, hinted that Foundation status, may soon be given to Community Hospitals or groups of district nurses, chiropdists and other health professionals providing services to primary care Trusts. In Sutton we are not so well advanced down this road, but if you go to the former EEMS PCT area over the border in Surrey you will find groups like EDICS - A group of GP's running services in Epsom. Is this the same as Epsom Day surgery group, who have been contracted to run a treatement centre and outpatients department in Cobham? There is also Central Surrey Healthcare social enterprise providing some community services. Over the coming years we are likely to see similar groups in the Merton and Sutton area, which may then entrench their contractual position by becoming foundations. Will there be any public scrutiny of the PCT service contracts to be let, prior to any decision? This is a potentially big issue for a future health scrutiny committee if it becomes proactive.
posted by Charlie Mansell at 3:24 pm
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