How is the NHS changing in Bradford district in 2022?
Under the current system, services such as mental health, urgent and emergency care, hospitals and community care are commissioned - or bought - for Bradford and Craven by a Clinical Commissioning Group, made up of 73 GP practices across the area.
The current situation is that from mid-2022, these responsibilities will be taken on by a new organisation, West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), which will be accountable for NHS spending and performance within West Yorkshire.
The plan was for the changes to take effect from April 1, 2022, but it has recently been announced that the new Health and Social Care Act will be delayed until July 1, 2002.
Will it affect my experience of services?
The measures contained in the Bill passing through Parliament - which will make the new set-up part of the law - are intended to improve your outcomes and experiences of care, particularly if you are in contact with different services, through better integrating services both within the NHS and across the health and social care system.
The ICB will bring together hospitals and community providers, primary care (such as GP practices and pharmacies), local councils, hospitals, voluntary organisations and Healthwatch to make sure people living in our area get the best start in life and are able to remain healthy and age well by:
- joining up health and care services
- improving people’s health and wellbeing
- reducing health inequalities.
Population
It will be responsible for a population of 2.4 million people in Bradford and Craven, Leeds, Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield, 20 per cent of whom are from minority ethnic communities.
The 2.4 million people include:
- 315,000 unpaid carers
- 570,000 children and young people
- 500,000 people living in areas ranked in the most deprived 10 per cent of England.
Funding
While the ICB will cover a larger area than the old Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), decisions about local services will still be taken at a local level, with more than £1 billion in funding delegated to the Bradford and Craven "Place" within West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. The Bradford and Craven Place board will meet in public, like the CCG used to.
Feedback is being taken on the contents of the draft Integrated Care Board constitution until 14 January 2022, involving individuals and groups who are already involved with partner organisations. However, any organisation or member of the public is welcome to give views on the contents of the draft constitution here.
