Our local NHS is asking people for their comments about proposals to reduce differences in access to healthcare services in the Black Country.
In July 2022, a change in the law created our new organisation, NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), to take over local healthcare planning from the former clinical commissioning group (CCG) serving the areas of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
Since the ICB establishment we have been reviewing our clinical policies. This includes:
- reviewing the four existing CCG policies to harmonise them into one new position for the ICB
- implementing new policies to take into account national clinical guidelines and best practice.
While the majority of their clinical policies were similar, there were several clinical polices that had some differences. To address these differences, commissioning policies for treatments listed below are being reviewed to look at how they can be made the same for the places of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
Clinical experts have looked at the latest evidence and practice for all of these services, both nationally and locally, to ensure the local offer is high quality and safe.
The clinical policy review will be carried out in stages.
A public involvement exercise is now live to collect wider views and feedback from local people and staff to inform our final decision-making. The closing date for comments is Monday 26 February 2024. Further involvement will be carried out over the coming month for the remaining clinical policies.
Visit the ICB website to find out more information and have your say.
