NHS West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group
About your Clinical Commissioning Group
Who are we?
NHS West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was established on the 1st April 2013 as the key
statutory body responsible for the planning and buying of health services in west Essex.
The CCG is a clinically led membership organization made up of 38 general practices from the three
localities of Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford. The members are responsible for determining the
governance arrangements for the CCG and these are set out in the CCG’s constitution.
We manage an annual budget, of £338 million (from 2015/6) to commission the majority of healthcare
in our area of approximately 304,000 people. We commission services by agreements and contracts
with hospitals, community, mental health and other services from a range of service providers. Our
main hospital services are provided by The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Addenbrooke’s in
Cambridge, Mid Essex Hospital Trust in Broomfield and Whipp’s Cross Hospital in north east London.
Our community provider is South Essex Partnership Trust (SEPT) and our mental health services provider
is North Essex Partnership Trust (NEPT).
The CCG is not responsible for the commissioning of primary care, contracting with GP Practices,
Pharmacy and Dentists is the responsibility of the of NHS England.
What does clinical commissioning mean?
 Planning and buying high quality healthcare
On your behalf, we plan the best way to use the NHS funding that is allocated. We look at what will be
needed in health services each year and we plan ahead to meet future needs. To make things happen,
we work in partnership with service providers and partners and we monitor closely the performance
and quality of health services on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.
 Planning for the future
Demands on health services are rising all the time. We have a growing population and an increasing
number of older people with many associated health and social care needs. If we were to continue in
the same way every year, there would be an ever-widening gap between the costs of the services and
the funds available. However, there is huge scope for improvements with new technology and advances
in clinical practice.
Our planning processes are informed by a number of contributors including the Joint Strategic Needs
Assessment (JSNA) identifying the demographic and health needs of our population; national guidance
including NHS Outcomes Framework; developments in clinical practice; best practice examples; through
the engagement and contributions from our member practices and patients and public and much more.
Dr Rob Gerlis, Chair
Clare Morris, Chief Officer
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 Clinicians and patients in the driving seat
As the CCG is made up of general practices and has clinicians leading decision-making, this in itself
brings decisions closer to patients. GPs and other clinicians are able to use their clinical expertise and
their day-to-day contact with patients to inform and influence commissioning decisions. Our patient and
public engagement (PPE) strategy builds on this to make sure that people in Epping, Harlow and
Uttlesford are connected and can contribute to developments in their local NHS.
The CCG Leadership Team
Following a revision of the CCG’s constitution, there are now 6 elected GP board members to
strengthen the clinical leadership of the CCG providing for 2 GP board members per locality. Two of the
elected members will be nominated as the Chair and the Vice Chair. As members of the leadership team
the GP members will have corporate responsibilities within the CCG.
Clinical Voting
Non Clinical Voting
Non Voting
6 GP Members (from which
Chair and Vice Chair is
appointed)
Chief Officer
Consultant in Public Health
Director of Nursing and Quality
Director of Finance,
Contracting and Performance
3 Lay members
Essex County Council Board
Member
Acute Consultant (secondary
care specialist consultant)
Clinical Director
Total 9 clinical votes
Local Authority
Representative
Director of Transformation
Director of Primary Care and
Localities
Total 8 non clinical votes
Total 17 voting members
Our vision – working together for a healthy west Essex
“My health, My future, My say – A vision for the west Essex health and care system 2014-2014” was
formed following a major engagement exercise with our patients, residents and wider stakeholders in
partnership with Essex County Council and our providers in 2013. It is underpinned by the following
principles:o Quality first - Patient safety, clinical effectiveness, better outcomes and care for people as
people
o Significantly shifting the point of care - the right care is provided at the right time and in
the right place
o Integration between health and social care
o Connected transition of care and support between professionals and organisations
o Provision built around and responsive to the different needs of our communities and
localities
o Maximise productivity and efficiency where appropriate
o Allow individuals to take responsibility for their own health and retain independence
where appropriate.
Dr Rob Gerlis, Chair
Clare Morris, Chief Officer
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Our 5 year strategic plan – Realising our Vision
Our 5 year strategic plan has been developed to realise the ambitions of our vision. It has been
produced at a time when the west Essex health and care system is facing major pressures – population
growth, financial constraints and public health challenges. Our plan seeks to answer the question ‘How
do we do better for more with less money?
The key themes in our 5 year strategic plan are:o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Improving quality of care, clinical outcomes and people’s lives
Integration
Transformation
Prevention
Localism
Partnership with local people
A focus on practical action plans and getting things done which includes our five clinical
transformation programmes and urgent care project.
Please see the CCG’s website on the following link to view in detail the documents referenced in this
document. http://www.westessexccg.nhs.uk/Document%20Library/key-documents.htm
Dr Rob Gerlis, Chair
Clare Morris, Chief Officer
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