Significant changes are on their way regarding the way local Health services will be purchased and provided, and we would very much welcome the public’s thoughts on how they can be best engaged in these changes.
Under the recently-published Health and Social Care Bill, the way most health services are commissioned – or bought – will become the responsibility of GPs.
By April 2013, a GP commissioning group will take over the role carried out by NHS North East Essex.
In preparation for this change, a public and patient commissioning strategy discussion document has been issued by the North East Essex GP Commissioning Group.
It seeks people’s views on how the public can play an integral role under GP commissioning.
This document is a way in which we can communicate to the public our vision and aims on a public and patient engagement strategy.
We hope that, by going through this process, we can capture what parts of our aspirations are relevant, where there may be gaps in our plans, and what additional views the public could make regarding the way we could engage more effectively with them in the future.
The document includes a questionnaire asking people’s views on various aspects of the strategy.
Copies of the strategy can be obtained by e-mailing richard.gray@northeastessex.
nhs.uk The deadline for responses is Friday, March 11.
Richard Gray
North East Essex GP
Commissioning Group
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