Ipswich Hospital has promised to work together with the merged Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG during the board’s first meeting, overcoming previous “difficulties” in communication.
The two CCGs took the decision to merge late last year – in part – to ensure they had “a greater degree of influence and negotiating leverage” over Ipswich Hospital.
Chief Executive of NHS Suffolk Paul Watson said members from the two separate CCGs experienced “difficulty” in being heard and directing change at their local hospital.
Dr John Hague, a Board member of the Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG said the CCG and Ipswich Hospital will develop an integrated approach to deliver a “clinically driven, patient-centred healthcare system that is innovative, ambitious and based on a vibrant and successful hospital in Ipswich, together with superb community and mental health services.”
Last month, Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG members were involved in the decision to award private firm Serco a £140m deal to take over the running of the region’s community health services.
Isam Osman, consultant vascular surgeon at Ipswich Hospital, said the change in commissioning structure will allow the hospital to build on its “well established” relationship with GPs.
