Cumbria’s Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee has announced its response to three NHS public consultations which will help shape the future of Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts, and Ambulance Services in Cumbria and across the North West.
The Committee is responsible for reviewing health service matters in Cumbria on behalf of the local population. It comprises councillors from both the County Council and District Councils in Cumbria.
The Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny committee have taken part in three consultation processes and have put forward their views. The three areas under review are:-
Primary Care Trusts in Cumbria and Lancashire.
Strategic Health Authorities in the North West of England
Boundary changes to Ambulance Service NHS Trusts in the north west of England.
Primary Care Trusts make sure there are enough services for people within their area and that these services are accessible. They must also make sure that all other health services are provided, including hospitals, dentists, opticians, mental health services, patient transport (including Accident & Emergency), and pharmacies..
Cumbria’s Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny committee has supported the option which would provide for four Primary Care Trusts across Cumbria and Lancashire, including a single Primary Care Trust for Cumbria. The Committee has also called for measures to eliminate the accumulated historical debt of the existing Primary Care Trusts.
Strategic Health Authorities are the NHS’s “top tier” bodies for the management of its services. 28 Strategic Health Authorities were created by the Government in 2002. The Government wants to reduce their number, and this will mean just one Strategic Health Authority for the North West Region.
Cumbria’s Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee is calling for the NHS to ensure that a new Strategic Health Authority for the North West region has geographically proportionate representation on its Board including a member with Cumbrian knowledge and background.
The Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny has also provided feedback on an NHS consultation on boundary changes to Ambulance Service NHS Trusts in the north west of England. A proposal has been put forward to create a single Ambulance Trust in the North West and the Health and Scrutiny committee have fed in a number of comments designed to safeguard Cumbria’s interests in such a trust.
The full comments and feedback provided by Cumbria’s Health and Scrutiny Committee in all three consultations are provided in letters to the NHS and attached to this press release. Any member of the public wanting further information can contact the Scrutiny Unit, Cumbria County Council on 01228-601015.