Futures in National Health No 1 - National Health Service Commissioning Board [Update 8 April 2012]

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 sections 9 and 23 and schedule 1 provides for additional provisions which affect the NHS Commissioning Board's functions - in the way now set out in the amended National Health Service Act 2006. [Given the size of both Acts it is a tortuous chore to try and sort out the final wording. Luckily I don't have to do so! The litte I have done is a personal stroll in one of the small foothills of an Everest of statutory mountaineering.]

Appointments to Board have been made so as to enable the initial arrangements for it creation, etc. They include:
Chair:  Professor Malcolm Grant
Non Executive Director:   Ciaran Devan
Non Executive Director - Chair of the Audit Committee:     Ed Smith

In summary section 23 includes a series of 14 duties* concerning the role and activities of Board. The wide role of the Board includes: 

• to create and develop the structure and organisation of the NHS Commissioning Board;
• to develop the clinical commissioning system;
• to uphold the NHS constitution;
• to drive improvements of results for patients;
• to take forward the interests of patients in health and care;
• to develop the system in a countrywide fair and comprehensive way.

* In some ways the management team of most organisations  might review the duties and check them against theirs - they are listed as sections 13A to 13P in a new Chapter 1A of Part 2 of the 2006 Act - which is placed before Chapter 1.[Mountaineers must have some jargon word for such a convolusion of statutory packing of a rucksack of Acts.] Hopefully TSO will (has) publish(ed) as one the whole of the revised 2006 Act.)

Community Health and Fitness No 2.2 - Health, Exercise and Weight

Course for Weight Loss:  Another local health initiative is combatting weight - particularly after Christmas and the New Year celebrations. A programme of several weight reduction courses are offered by local partnership which includes Sevenoaks District Council.

The last course featured exercise, dietary advice, and monitoring of weight reduction. Details of the latest course is shown by the link:

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/top_stories/9458888.Council_offers_free_weight_management_programme/

Cycling Leadership: Similar to the Walk Leadership programme, Sevenoaks Distrcit Council is now seeking cycle leaders fro weekend health cycling. Leaders will receive training, a kit, and, no doubt, insurance cover.

Community Health and Fitness No 6 - Expert Patients Programme

I recently came across upon a leaflet about the Expert Patients Programme (EPP) and my interest was further developed when a friend forwarded details of a local course of say, five weeks..

The aim is to develop in a patient suffering from a long-term chronic illness the confidence, knowledge and skills to self-manage himself or herself.  The illnesses covered include:

• asthma;
• epilepsy;
• heart illnesses; and,
• multiple sclerosis.

Topics which might be included in a course are:

• exercise;
• healthy eating;
• relaxation;
• communications - with family, health care professionals etc.

Details of the courses and other features of the programme may be found at     http://www.expertpatients.co.uk/