Green light for town's new health funders

WARRINGTON Clinical Commissioning Group has officially been given the green light to oversee and manage the provision of healthcare services for local people from April next year.
This follows receipt of formal authorisation from the NHS Commissioning Board, with Warrington one of only eight areas to receive full authorisation, with no conditions attached and no further support needed from the Commissioning Board.
Warrington CCG has now been authorised and established, ready to take on its statutory role of commissioning health services for local communities from April 2013.
Dr Andy Davies, Chair of Warrington CCG, said: “This is fantastic news and the best possible outcome for Warrington. It’s testament to everyone’s hard work over the last 18 months and we couldn’t have achieved full authorisation without the help and support of our member GP practices and local partners.
“This is just the beginning. There is a way to go to make Warrington healthcare fit for the future, but we’re hitting the ground running and I’m very hopeful about the future.”
Dr Sarah Baker, (pictured) Chief Clinical Officer at Warrington CCG, said: “All the healthcare organisations in Warrington firmly believe in the need for change and the move towards focussing on prevention and early diagnosis to help people stay healthier for longer.
“With their support, we’ve already implemented some positive changes, but with this full authority, now we can really start to make progress to improve the quality and choice of hospital, community and mental health services for the population of Warrington.
“Patient experience is incredibly important and through continuous engagement with and involvement of local people we will make sure we spend our budget wisely and commission services that meet people’s needs.”
The announcement comes after a rigorous five-month assessment, in which the organisation has proved itself capable of effectively managing and delivering positive health outcomes for the local community.
A total of 34 areas across the country have today been given the green light to take control of their local NHS budget, currently managed by Warrington NHS Primary Care Trust. They are the first of 211 CCGs that will be collectively responsible for up to £65 billion of the £95 billion NHS Commissioning Board budget.
Only last month the Warrington CCG was named Commissioning Organisation of the Year at the Health Service Journal (HSJ)awards.
Presented at The Grosvenor House Hotel, London, the award recognises the organisation’s work and commitment to improve the health of the local population.
In the 18 months since it was formed, Warrington CCG has established itself within the community, built strong partnerships, developed a whole system approach to commissioning, carried out a systematic review of services and delivered successful reform programmes.
Made up of 27 GP practices, the CCG commissions healthcare services for a population of 208,000.