A NEW NHS organisation has taken over the reins of overseeing health and social care in Birmingham and Solihull.
NHS Birmingham and Solihull is one of 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICB) that was launched on July 1 as part of plans to axe Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
The ICB is responsible for planning to meet local health needs, allocating resources to NHS partners, ensuring that services are in place to deliver against ambitions and overseeing delivery of improved outcomes for the 1.3 million population of Birmingham and Solihull.
The ICB will lead the health element of the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System (ICS), which brings together the local NHS, councils and the voluntary, community and faith sector to achieve better outcomes for citizens across the area.
The ICS’ partner organisations say it will work on what has been achieved through integrated working so far in a bid to make Birmingham and Solihull the healthiest place to live and work and driving equity in life chances and health outcomes for everyone.
To mark the launch, a new video has been created showcasing many of the achievements made possible through system working.
David Melbourne, chief executive of NHS Birmingham and Solihull, said: “The ICB provides a platform from which we can affect significant change, making the care our population receives more seamless, fit for purpose and equitable for all.
“This integrated working has long been an ambition for us, with the Covid-19 pandemic forcing us to accelerate how all of our partners work together to ensure we meet the needs of our people.”
NHS Birmingham and Solihull will be supporting the delivery of the ICS’ priorities which aim to make tangible and lasting improvements to services and the lives of patients and communities.
Dame Yve Buckland, chair of NHS Birmingham and Solihull, said: “Our ambitions stretch far beyond just delivering improved services.
“We want to make sure what we do improves the health of our population, tackles unequal outcomes and access, enhances productivity and value and supports the broader social and economic development of Birmingham and Solihull.
“We are in a unique position to be able to make strides towards achieving these aims, and I have seen first hand the commitment and dedication of all of our 80,000 health and care staff that will make this possible.
“I’m also delighted to share that David Melbourne has now appointed our Chief Executive, having been doing the role on an interim basis whilst we have worked in shadow form since April 2021. Patrick Vernon, our Non-executive Director for Inequalities, has also been confirmed as our vice-chair.”
