NHS North of Tyne  PR 1520    03/04/2012    [For Immediate Release]

New patient group in Blyth Valley has been formed after joining forces with local GP leaders

People in Blyth Valley have joined forces with local GP leaders in a bid to help drive up standards even further around patient care. 

A new patient group has recently been formed in the borough which will have a greater say on how local healthcare services will be run in the future.

Dr Frances Naylor, locality lead of Blyth Valley’s Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (NCCG), welcomed the group.

“Having a strong patient voice with the emphasis focusing on how we can improve local healthcare services for local people is the main aim of the group,” said Dr Naylor, who is also a GP at Forum Family Practice in Cramlington.

“I’m very excited about the future and how the group will develop,” continued Dr Naylor.

“The group members are local people from the community who have a genuine interest in helping to drive up patient care and really benefit people living in Blyth Valley.

“The patient reference group will have an influence on the agenda and strategies of NCCG which over the next three years is looking to meet the longer-term health needs of local people.”

As the NHS Bill has gained royal assent it means in the future GP clinical commissioning groups will be responsible for making sure that local health services are available to meet the needs of local people 

NCCG covers all 46 GP practices across the county who are working together to improve health and healthcare for the population of Northumberland, some 330,000 people. 

To ensure there is also a local focus on how money is spent on commissioning health services the NCCG has four localities - North, West, Blyth Valley and Central.

The group is working closely with the current commissioners of health services in the county - NHS North of Tyne, on behalf of Northumberland Care Trust, with the view to take on responsibilities before the phasing out of primary care trusts in 2013.