Issue - meetings

The Policy and Scrutiny Officer reported on the Health and Social Care Bill, introduced into Parliament on 19^th January, 2011.  The Bill took forward the areas of Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS (July 2010) and the subsequent Government response Liberating the NHS: Legislative Framework and Next Steps (December 2010) which required primary Legislation.

It was part of the Government’s vision to modernise the NHS so that it was built around patients, led by health professionals and focussed on delivering world class healthcare outcomes.  It also included provision to strengthen public health services and reform the Department’s arms length bodies.

The Bill contained provisions covering 5 themes:-

-        Strengthening commissioning of NHS services

-        Increasing democratic accountability and public voice

-        Liberating provision of NHS services

-        Strengthening public health services

-        Reforming health and care arms length bodies

The report also set out a summary of the bill proposals listed by Section:-

Section 8        Duties as to improvement of Public Health

Section 13      Other services etc. provided as part of the Health Service

Section 14      Regulations as to the exercise by local authorities of certain Public Health functions

Section 18      Exercise of Public Health Functions of the Secretary of State

Section 19      The NHS Commissioning Board: further provision

Section 22      Commissioning Consortia: general duties etc.

Section 25      Other Health Service functions of local authorities under the 2006 Act

Section 26      Appointment of Directors of Public Health

Section 27      Exercise of Public Health functions of local authorities

Section 42      Charges in respect of certain Public Health functions

Section 50      Co-operation with bodies exercising functions in relation to Public Health

Section 167   Establishment and constitution

Section 170   Independent Advocacy Services

Section 176   Joint Strategic Needs Assessments

Section 177   Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies

Section 178   Establishment of Health and Wellbeing Boards

Section 179   Duty to encourage integrated working

Section 180   Other functions of Health and Wellbeing Boards

Section 182   Discharge of functions of Health and Wellbeing Boards

Section 183   Supply of information to Health and wellbeing Boards

Section 190   Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments

From April, 2013, Public Health England would allocate ringfenced budgets, weighted for inequalities, to upper tier and unitary authorities in local government.  Shadow allocations would be issued to local authorities in 2012/13 providing an opportunity for planning.  Building on the baseline allocation, local authorities would receive an incentive payment, or ‘health premium’, that would depend on the progress made in improving the health of the local population and reducing health inequalities based on elements of the Public Health Outcomes Framework.  The premium would be simple and driven by a formula developed with key partners, representatives of local government, public health experts and academics.

Discussion ensued on the report with the following issues raised/clarified by the Policy and Scrutiny Officer and Director of Public Health:-

-        The Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) would be set up by the local authority and would be a statutory board.  There would be a minimum membership including 1 nominated Councillor, Director of Adult  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78