Norfolk councillors meet to discuss health reforms

The Association continues to support Local Authorities to engage with the health reforms.

On 2 November 2011, the Association supported Norfolk County Council host a workshop on the NHS reforms for Borough, City, County and District Councillors in Norfolk.

Chaired by the Leader of Norfolk County Council, Cllr Derrick Murphy, the purpose of the workshop was to provide a forum for Councillors from across the county of Norfolk, a two-tier area, in which they could look at what roles they could have to play in the new system of health, social care and public health that will be in place by April 2013.

Approximately 30 Councillors from across the county took part in the workshop, the first part of which had presentations from the Assistant Director of Public Health, the Chief Executive and the Head of Policy at Norfolk County Council.  These presentations provided: an overview of the NHS reforms; the emergent role of public health in a local authority; and set out some of the possible opportunities for councillors that may exist.

A theme that ran throughout the presentations was the changing relationships that were being brought about by the reforms, specifically: GPs deciding how to spend NHS money; GPs being responsible for population health; revitalised patient advocacy; an enhanced democratic function in health and the greater influence of local authorities in the development of health and social care services; and the new role for local authorities in public health.  Perhaps the most significant change being that for patients that is encapsulated in the phrase "no decision about me, without me".

The second part of the workshop was dedicated to a question and answer session, to a panel of representatives, including: a Clinical Commissioning Group lead; the Director of Adult Social Care; Assistant Director of Public Health; Norfolk County Council's Leader, Chief Executive and Head of Policy.  The Question and Answer session enabled the Councillors present to explore some of the issues that had been raised in the earlier presentations.

The Question and Answer session covered a wide range of topics, including: mental health; local HealthWatch; the Health and Wellbeing Board; health scrutiny; predictive modelling of need; managing service provision across (porous) county borders; the development of Clinical Commissioning Groups; local accountability; value for money; how and where to challenge health and social care provision; and advice and advocacy.

The councillors who engaged in the workshop felt that they would be able to influence the health and social care system through: scrutiny; local HealthWatch; their council and the services that it provides that impact upon health and wellbeing; signposting people to services and advice and advocacy; and the development of local links with their Clinical Commissioning Group and/or cluster of GP practices.  It was concluded that it was too early for individual councillors to approach Clinical Commissioning Groups or clusters of GP practices but that over the next 12 to 18 months, there would be opportunities to make local links on behalf of patients and citizens.  

The notes from the workshop have been distributed through the Overview and Scrutiny panels, member forums and local authority working groups focused upon the implementation of the NHS reforms.  The workshop is part of an ongoing dialogue with stakeholders and citizens across the county about the health reforms and what they mean for them.

For further information about this event, please contact:

Daniel Harry
Planning, Performance and Partnerships
Norfolk County Council
T: 01603 222568
E: daniel.harry@norfolk.gov.uk