PATIENTS, carers and stakeholders have been learning how their views will shape the future of the new improved NHS.

North Durham Commissioning Group (CCG) recently set out its key aims to improve the health and wellbeing of its 240,000 residents at four public meetings across its locality.

The sessions gave patients and local community groups the opportunity to discuss the health services they want to see commissioned for local residents next year.

The new clinical commissioning group will take over full responsibility for the planning and purchasing of health services for people in Durham, Chester-le-Street and Derwentside from the Primary Care Trust next April.

Interim senior commissioning officer Michael Houghton said: “We have spent the past year working with patients, clinicians, public health officials, financiers and NHS providers to help us to draw up our clear and credible health care plan.This has given us a real insight into the health services that people want and that we need to provide.

“From this work we have identified four key aims which we will implement over the next five years.”

These aims are:

  • To improve the health status of the population; 
  • To address the holistic needs of the ageing population;
  • To provide better quality services closer to patients’ homes;
  • To make the best use of public funds to achieve all of this in a safe, sustainable and effective way.

“All of the areas surrounding these aims will continue to be reviewed, changed and improved by listening to the views of our patients, carers and community groups to ensure we provide the best possible care and treatment to our residents,” said Michael.

The meetings also gave the CCG the opportunity to set out its new governance, decisionmaking arrangements and strategic objectives, and present a summary of health needs and challenges.

These included the ageing population, life expectancy inequalities, alcohol, obesity and teenage pregnancy rates as well as mental health issues.

North Durham CCG chair, Dr Kate Bidwell, said: “Through feedback we have had from these meetings one of our main roles has been to try and reassure people who are anxious about the changes happening within the NHS.

“We have been able to dispel most of the myths and rumours around such things as the stoppage of services and postcode lottery treatment and let people know that our aim is to be as co-ordinated as possible by providing the best possible care and making health services equitable to all.

“It has also been a great opportunity to say who we are, what plans we have – although none of them are set in stone – and to give people the chance to give us their insights into what health issues really matter to them.”

All delegates took part in a table top exercise to discuss and consider their views on current gaps within health provision and the prioritisation of health services within the locality.

CCG patient representative John Goodwill, 66, of Durham, said: “I think it is good that the CCG is actively asking patients to put forward their views.

“I have had a lot of interaction with the NHS over the years, through a variety of family health issues, and have seen some inequality of service, both good and bad.

“CCGs have still to be proven but I’d like to think that they are the first step to improving the NHS.”