HEALTH chiefs in Kirklees are expected to agree to a new organisation for the next two years.
NHS Kirklees is expected to merge with NHS Calderdale and NHS Wakefield for a new “cluster” group to oversee the transfer of power from Primary Care Trusts to GPs.
The switch, which is due on April 1, will run until 2013, when GP practices are given more powers over commissioning health care.
The changes are being made to ensure the NHS in the region maintains quality of care and financial stability as the responsibility for buying health services is transferred from PCTs to GP consortia.
In July 2010, the Health White Paper ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’ outlined plans to transfer NHS commissioning responsibilities from PCTs to groups of general practitioners.
Until the transition to GP consortia in 2013 is complete, some PCTs will come together with neighbouring PCTs, to ensure capacity and capability is maintained.
Mike Potts, chief executive of NHS Kirklees, is expected to take a similar role with the new body.
Angela Monaghan, who chairs NHS Calderdale, is likely to be the chairman of the new body.
NHS Kirklees spokesman Angela Hyde said: “It is part of unprecedented change within the NHS and this new umbrella group is part of a national review of the trusts.
“We are still working out all the details about how things will run until 2013, but the clusters will ensure that there is a joint approach to maintaining core statutory duties.”
