Under section 13Q of the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012), NHS England has a statutory duty to ‘make arrangements’ to involve the public in commissioning services for NHS patients. The Statement of Arrangements and Guidance on Patient and Public Participation in Commissioning sets out the 13Q duty for CCGs in more detail.
Section 242 of the NHS Act 2006 (as amended by the Act 2012) requires NHS organisations to involve and consult patients and the public in:
- The planning and provision of services
- The development and consideration of proposals for changes in the way services are provided
Section 244 of the NHS Act 2006 requires NHS organisations to consult relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSC) on any proposals for a substantial development of the health service in the area of the Local Authority, or a substantial variation in the provision of services.
Consultation and Engagement
Involving local patients, members of the public, carers and patient representative groups is important so that we can be assured that we are commissioning the best possible services that meet the needs of local patients and represent the best possible value for money.
Dependent on our intended outcome, we may choose to engage or launch a formal consultation.
What is engagement?
Engagement describes the continuing and ongoing process of developing relationships and partnerships so that the voice of local people and partners is heard and that our plans are shared at the earliest possible stages. Examples of this type of engagement would include our various methods of connecting with patients and local people, such as our Patient and Public Involvement Groups.
It also describes activity that happens early on in an involvement process, including holding extensive discussions with a wide range of people to develop a robust case for change.
What is a ‘formal consultation’?
‘Formal consultation’ describes the statutory requirement we have as an NHS organisation to consult with Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSCs), patients, the public and stakeholders when considering a proposal for a substantial development of the health service, or for a substantial variation in the provision of a service.
Formal consultation is carried out if a change is ‘significant’. This is determined where the proposal or plan is likely to have a substantial impact on one or more of the following:
- Access (e.g. reduction or increase in service due to change of location or opening times)
- Wider community (e.g. economic impact, transport, regeneration)
- Patients or users (either current or future)
- Service delivery (e.g. methods of delivery or relocation of services)
The outcome of a formal consultation must be reported to our Governing Body, together with the feedback received, and must show how this has been taken into account in any recommendations and decision making.
Ways to get involved:
- Regular meetings that you can attend – watch our news post section
- Join in engagement or public consultation sessions on changes to services
- Attend our regular Governing Body meetings and Primary Care Commissioning Meetings
- Attend our AGM
- Volunteer for our Patient Groups
- Have your say by contacting us.
NHS England involvement opportunities
The Patient and Public Voice (PPV) Partners Policy sets out how NHS England supports PPV partners to be involved in its work. PPV partners include patients, service users, carers, families and other members of the public who are involved in NHS England’s work in different ways. The policy sets out the support and governance arrangements in place to enable PPV partners to be effective in their roles.
Accessibility Statement
We have events and opportunities throughout the year which enable local people to become involved in shaping local services. These can include topic-specific focus groups, workshops and online surveys alongside stands and activities and events throughout Tees Valley. Our Governing Body and Primary Care Commissioning Committee meetings are open to the public, as is our Annual General Meeting.
We are committed to ensuring that any public involvement event we hold caters for the needs of all local people and therefore provides:
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on request
- Hearing loops within event venues
- Wheelchair accessible venues
- Halal / vegetarian catering where possible/ required
- Language interpreters on request
Papers in accessible formats including large print are available on request by contacting 01642 745401.
Our website Accessibility Statement specifies our commitment to ensuring our online content is easy to use and reflective of the ways in which different people access the internet.