Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board

The shadow Health and Wellbeing Board is the key partnership for improving the health and wellbeing of Buckinghamshire residents.

It was formed in response to the Government’s agenda for radical reorganisation of how health services are delivered and managed in England. The Health and Social Care Bill is undergoing lively debate and challenge during its passage through parliament. The final shape of the legislation is unlikely to be known until January 2012. The board will be in shadow form until April 2013, when it will become a statutory body.

It involves representatives from each of the 3 well-established Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in the county, as well as other health professionals, a patient representative and district and county council representatives.

Responsibilities include:

• To co-ordinate the development of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) to understand the health and wellbeing needs of the people of Buckinghamshire
• To determine the priorities for, and prepare, the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Buckinghamshire
• To promote integration and partnership across areas, including through promoting joined up commissioning plans across the NHS, social care and public health
• To ensure that, regardless of provider, commissioning decisions for health and wellbeing are in line with the joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and take notice of the JSNA