Earlier this year the Department of Health published
High quality care for all: NHS Next Stage Review final report
(June 2008) and
NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community
care (July 2008).
This was followed in December 2008 by
NHS Next Stage Review: What it means for the Third Sector. This
states:
"PCTs and SHAs will now work together with NHS staff, patient
groups and local government, third sector and independent sector
partners to develop five year plans to improve the health of people
locally. The duty is based on a formal assessment of people's needs
(Joint Strategic Needs Assessments) developed between primary care
trusts, local authorities and other local partners to tackle the
most important factors in improving health.
"They will show a strong emphasis on partnership working between
PCTs, local authorities and other partners (public, private and
third sector - including social enterprise) to ensure that local
health and wellbeing needs are better understood and addressed. For
more information on this local work, please contact your local
PCT".
How can the third sector respond?
At the local level it is difficult for PCTs to effectively reach
the plethora of organisations that could potentially help deliver
'High Quality Care for All'. There is a requirement to involve the
third sector in the joint strategic needs assessment. For this to
be meaningful it requires the development of productive working
relationships within the community. The third sector is encouraged
to develop local partnerships and then proactively contact the
local PCT. The third sector is also well placed to get involved in
the wider aspects of service delivery, such as the role of
voluntary organisations in supporting the involvement and
consultation of service users and the broader population".
NAVCA members are urged to help local third sector organisations to
contact their Primary Care Trust and register interest in Joint
Strategic Needs Assessments.