Changes to health and social care across North Somerset

Integrating health and social care services is on the agenda in North Somerset as the health and wellbeing organisations identify ways of closer working.

Plans are being developed for work to be carried out by a new integrated care organisation and subject to consultation, this new organisation would potentially be responsible for health and social care services for adults and children. It would build on the joint and integrated working practices already in place and services affected by this new way of organising services could include Weston General Hospital, community health services and social care.

Peter Colclough, chief executive of Weston Area Health NHS Trust, and responsible for leading the integration project said: "Integrated care would bring a more joined-up way of caring for people in North Somerset. It would see staff in health and social care working as a single team to make sure people get the support they need, when and where they need it, without confusion or delay.

"The proposals would help respond to the demographic pressures impacting on social care and health services, as well as minimising duplication and targeting limited resources towards agreed joint priorities.”

The planned integrated care is part of a wider group of health improvements underway in North Somerset. From April 2013, responsibility for public health services will transfer from the primary care trust to North Somerset Council.

Also, from April 2013, the district’s GPs will be working together as the North Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, and work is under way to explore opportunities for integrating the council’s health and social care commissioning functions with those of GPs.

Cllr Nigel Ashton, leader of North Somerset Council, and chair of the North Somerset Partnership said: "We have a significant amount of work to do to implement the changes to health and social care services at the local level. The next stage is the preparation of a detailed business plan. We have already made a lot of progress and work is well under way to integrate services where it makes sense to do so.

"We have a good track record of working together in North Somerset, and I am confident that we will continue to provide efficient and improving health and care services for local people, offering better value for the public money we spend."

Photo: Cllr Nigel Ashton, leader of North Somerset Council, and chair of the North Somerset Partnership