The strong partnership working between the council and health service organisations on the Isle of Wight has resulted in the Island’s special circumstances being recognised by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in proposals to reshape local NHS organisations.

The Department of Health (DoH) has supported plans put forward by the SHA to create a single NHS organisation for the Isle of Wight.  The proposed new organisation will oversee the commissioning and provision of acute hospital services, mental health, community, primary care and ambulance services.  

The proposed new organisation will replace the current Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Healthcare Trust (HCT) and for legislative purposes will be a “new style” Primary Care Trust. Social care services would continue to be commissioned by the local authority in partnership with the NHS to improve the health and well-being of local residents.

The Strategic Health Authority will today (Wednesday 14 December 2005) start a three month consultation on the following options for the Island:

• a single organisation for the commissioning and provision of all National Health Services on the Isle of Wight
• the new organisation will be a Primary Care Trust and will replace the current Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust
• two options for Ambulance services
• the council to continue to commission social care services, but move towards a fully integrated health and social care organisation, through the use of existing Health Act flexibilities and the emerging Local Area Agreement for the Island

The Island’s strong preference for ambulance services, which is also supported by the SHA, is for them to be included within the new organisation.  An alternative option is for Island ambulance services to be provided as part of the proposed Ambulance Trust covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire.

On the mainland, the proposed reconfiguration of SHA and PCTs will mean a significant reduction in the number of organisations.  For the Island, the only option is to have a new single PCT – this is an unusual model as both a significant provider and commissioner of services but recognises the unique needs of the island.

There are two options for SHAs:

Option 1: one SHA for South East, coterminous with government regional office boundaries

Option 2: one SHA for Thames Valley and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and one SHA for Kent and Medway and Surrey and Sussex

There are two options for PCTs – both of which include a single PCT for the Isle of Wight:

Option 1: four PCTs: Hampshire PCT, Portsmouth City PCT, Southampton City PCT, Isle of Wight PCT

Option 2: six PCTs : East Hampshire PCT, North Hampshire PCT, West Hampshire PCT, Portsmouth City PCT, Southampton City PCT, Isle of Wight PCT

There are two options for the Island’s Ambulance Service – one to retain the management of the Ambulance Service on the Isle of Wight as part of the function of the proposed new organisation.  The other option would be for Ambulance Services on the Isle of Wight to be provided as part of the proposed Ambulance Trust covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire.

The SHA are now responsible for holding a three month consultation on all the options for the SHA and PCT reconfigurations in their “patch”.  Their consultation will run from 14 December 2005 until 22 March 2006 and this will be supported by events on the Island to enable people to make their views known about the proposals.

The full consultation document can be viewed on www.hiow.nhs.uk/cplnhs.htm

Consultation responses should be sent to:

(In writing)
Sir Ian Carruthers OBE
Chief Executive
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority
Oakley Road
Southampton
SO16 4GX

By email: consultation@hiowha.nhs.uk