The Interim Chief Executive presented a report which considered the implications of significant national NHS reform and identified a number of issues on which Wirral Council would wish to determine the local approach. Those issues included the introduction of General Practice Commissioning Consortia, the transfer of public health into local authorities and the establishment of Public Health England, and the establishment of local Health and Wellbeing Boards.

The Council had responded with pace to the need to understand the new architecture of the NHS and the changed relationships that would come into place during the next two years. The recommendations contained in the paper would allow the Council to continue to build on this to ensure effective and robust partnerships for health on Wirral in the future.

He advised that a number of the implications were dependent on the outcome of consultation (for example the White Paper on Public Health, Healthy Lives, Healthy People) and on the Health and Social Care Bill, which was currently in passage through Parliament. Within the Bill there were a number of statutory duties that would pass from the NHS to local government and it contained provisions in relation to –

(i)  strengthening commissioning of NHS services;

(ii)  increasing democratic accountability and public voice;

(iii)  liberating provision of NHS services;

(iv)  strengthening public health services;

(v)  reforming health and care arms-length bodies.

On behalf of the Cabinet, the Chair thanked the Director of Public Health for the considerable work she had undertaken in the development of a local approach to NHS reform. He also referred to the considerable involvement of the Chief Executive of NHS Wirral, the Wirral Community NHS Trust and the GP Commissioning Consortia. The Vice-Chair highlighted the importance of Wirral becoming an early implementer for Health and Wellbeing Boards and welcomed the return of public health to local authorities from 2013. He commented also upon the consultation period for the Public Health White Paper having been extended to 31 March 2011 and highlighted the importance of the Council’s response.

Resolved –

(1)  That, in view of the progress made to date, the local authority move to the creation of a shadow public health function at the earliest opportunity and the Interim Chief Executive be instructed to bring forward a report to the Cabinet with proposals for appropriate milestones to be put in place, and consideration of the functions for public health in the Council.

(2)  That since the transfer of public health into the local authority from the NHS is a significant change it be considered as part of the Strategic Change Programme and the Interim Chief Executive be instructed to put in place appropriate seminars and briefings to ensure that all Members are aware of the changes and their implications for the Council.

(3)  That as the Council has already expressed a strong interest in becoming an early implementer for Health and Wellbeing Boards at its meeting on 3 February, the Interim Chief Executive be instructed to present a report to a future meeting of the Cabinet on proposals for how the Health and Wellbeing Board could be established at the earliest opportunity, and at the latest by October 2011. This will include consideration of how the Health and Wellbeing Board will align with the Council’s other governance arrangements. The Cabinet considers that the Health and Wellbeing Board should be established at the earliest opportunity so that progress can be made on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

(4)  That the Interim Chief Executive be instructed to build on the relationships already established with the GP Commissioning Consortia, and with other NHS partners to ensure that the Council is able to continue to work well on issues of shared interest in a changing environment.

(5)  That the Council’s response to the Department of Health consultations, Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Consultation on the Funding and Commissioning Routes for Public Health and Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Transparency in Outcomes be delegated to the Interim Chief Executive and be prepared in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council.