Comment / Tight timetable for new Welsh structure

The Welsh Assembly government will consult this autumn on plans for the new financial management systems needed to support structural reforms in the local NHS, health minister Edwina Hart has said.

The restructured Welsh NHS, which will abolish the internal market, is due to be launched in April next year. But with further consultation also to come on the structure and responsibilities of the seven new integrated NHS bodies and the recruitment process for board members, Ms Hart conceded she might have to reconsider the original timetable. She would also consider creating the new bodies in shadow form first.

The minister confirmed there would be seven local bodies combining the work of commissioners and providers. Work would be undertaken to decide how the responsibilities of Health Commission Wales, the specialist commissioner, would be allocated among them.

Earlier plans had suggested the creation of a National Board to oversee NHS performance with various degrees of independence from politicians. However, the minister said two new bodies would be created – a National Advisory Board, chaired by the health minister, and a Delivery Board, which would oversee the day-to-day performance of the NHS and be chaired by the NHS Wales chief executive.