An inaugural public day one meeting has been planned to mark the inception of the soon-to-be-established Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board.
Officials from the new integrated care board, which is being established to improve health and care for local people across the area, will meet in public for the first time in Salisbury on Friday 1st July.
The meeting will mark the successful transition from the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and see health and care leaders discuss future ways of working for the local NHS and its partner organisations.
Dissolving the CCG and establishing the integrated care board follows Parliamentary approval and Royal Assent of the new Health and Care Act 2022, which outlines how effective collaboration and better partnership working will become commonplace for local health and care providers.
Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be responsible for planning and coordinating services on behalf of local people, as well as developing a plan for meeting the health needs of its population, managing the local NHS budget and arranging for the provision of local health services.
The ICB will also bring the local health and care system together, with its board of officials comprising not only those from within the organisation, but also featuring representatives from local NHS trusts, primary care, local authorities, voluntary organisations and community providers.
Leaders will work collaboratively to improve outcomes in population health, provide better joined-up care, reduce health inequalities and enhance productivity and value for money, while also helping the NHS support broader social and economic development.
Dr Amanda Webb, Chief Medical Officer at the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “The formal transition from clinical commissioning group to integrated care board will take place on 1 July, but that is really only the very first step on an otherwise longer journey to bring true cohesion and partnership working to our region.
“We know that by working together, we can boost the partnerships already in place, join up services for the benefit of local people and deliver care and treatment in a way that is both efficient and economical.”
The new integrated care board will be the statutory element of the larger Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care System, which will also be known as BSW Together.
This is a wider network of local health and care organisations that will, along with councils, community providers and voluntary sector groups, plan and organise how health and care services can be delivered across the region, while also committing to give local people and communities a louder voice in how services are provided locally.
