About NHS Herefordshire

What is NHS Herefordshire?

NHS Herefordshire is responsible for commissioning (buying) health services to meet the needs of the 180,000 residents in the county.

These services are currently provided through Wye Valley NHS Trust (formerly Hereford Hospitals Trust), 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, GPs, dentists, optometrists and in partnership with the council's adult social care services. Other specialist services are provided by Birmingham and Cheltenham hospitals.

NHS Herefordshire works very closely with the council to improve people's health and well being - for example helping people choose healthier lifestyles and working to reduce smoking and harmful alcohol use.

What is a PCT cluster?

NHS Herefordshire is part of the West Mercia cluster which  also includes:

• Shropshire County PCT 
• Telford & Wrekin PCT 
• Worcestershire PCT

The West Mercia cluster now shares a single chief executive, trust board and management team made up from the primary care trusts it represents. 

The cluster will oversee the transition from PCT to clinical commissioning in the run up to the planned transfer of responsibility in April 2013.  Read more about PCT Clusters.

What are the changes that are taking place in my local NHS?

In July 2010, the Government announced plans for the NHS in a White Paper 'Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS'.

One of the key strands of the reforms is to put GPs and other clinicians in the driving seat for commissioning (buying) health services to meet the needs of local people. In December 2010 Herefordshire was selected to be a pathfinder to pilot clinical commissioning.

The idea behind this is that doctors and other healthcare professionals, who see patients everyday, know more than anyone else about the health needs of local people and their local communities.

What is a clinical commissioning group?

Herefordshire Health-Care Commissioners (HHCC) is the new clinical commissioning group for Herefordshire, tasked with buying and shaping health and care services for local people.

At the moment it is a shadow committee of the board of NHS Herefordshire.  During 2012 commissioning responsibilities will begin to transfer to HHCC from NHS Herefordshire. It will take full responsibility from April 2013 and NHS Herefordshire will cease to operate.

The development of health services will be driven by the needs of local people as well as national policies.

HHCC will also work closely with partners in the public and third sector so that health and social care services are joined up and accessible to local people.