Health board to be set up

A STEP towards giving communities greater say in health and social care service planning has been taken in Warrington.
The town is among 132 local authorities in the country to join a network of early implementers in setting up new health and wellbeing boards.
Health boards are part of the government’s healthcare reform and will mean greater co-operation between the NHS and local authorities. Ultimately the aim is to give communities greater say in health and social care service planning in their local area.
During the next year or so early implementers will look to create a “shadow” health and wellbeing board. It is envisaged that fully-fledged boards will be up and running by April 2013 – when GP consortia take on responsibility for the NHS budget.
The boards will bring together those who buy services across the NHS, public health, social care and children’s services and patient interest representatives, to plan services.
In Warrington Professor Steven Broomhead – former chief executive of the North West Development Agency – has been appointed as independent chairman to oversee the process and act as an ambassador for health and wellbeing.