CCG plans to commission services must be in line with strategies co-devised by local authorities, DH draft guidance has said.
Published on 31 July, Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies reinforced the importance of the Health and Wellbeing Board’s responsibility to prepare the CCG and council drafted JSNA and JHWS.
It is claimed both documents are “fundamental” if the health reforms are to be successful as they provide an evidence base for the planning of services.
As such, the DH has directed that CCGs as well as the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) and local authorities’ plans for commissioning services must be informed by JSNAs and JHWSs and where plans are not in line, all parties must be able to explain why.
“If a health and wellbeing board thinks that a CCG has not taken proper account of the relevant JHWSs it can make this known in very clear and certain terms to the CCG, and also to the NHS CB,” said the guidance.
“The CCG must be able to justify any parts of their plans which are not consistent. The NHS CB can take action if it believes that the plan is not in line with the JHWS, without a good reason.”
Health and Wellbeing Boards must also be involved if a CCG makes any “significant” changes to its commissioning plans to ensure any changes take “proper account” of the JHWS.
The draft guidance is open for consultation until the 28 September.
