The Strategic Health Authority

www.agwsha.nhs.uk

The new Strategic Health Authority is one of 28 across the country. It was established in April 2002. Its functions are to oversee the management of the local NHS on behalf of the government. It seeks to ensure that services are planned coherently and that targets to improve services are met. It, also, oversees the integration of national priorities with local plans. The new Authority has responsibility for some functions that were previously undertaken by the separate Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Health Authorities and by the Regional Office of the Department of Health. However, many of the functions of the three former Health Authorities are now undertaken by the Primary Care Trusts.

Within Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire there are 13 NHS Trusts which are responsible for the delivery of hospital, ambulance, mental health, and learning disability services. There are, also, 12 Primary Care Trusts which take the lead role in primary care and are responsible for the planning and securing of health services and improving the health of the local population.

It was not until January 2003 that SHA staff came together under one roof at new offices in Chippenham chosen because it is equidistant from all parts of the Authority's patch.

The Chair of the SHA is Anthea Millett. The Chief Executive is Geoff Scaife and he has been in the post since January 2003. Philip Milner is Executive Director of Policy and Partnerships. Mike Durkin is Executive Director of Clinical Performance.

Details of the website are given above. The SHA met in public 10 times during 2002/2003 in a variety of locations. All decisions taken by the Board were made at the public meetings apart from those confidential matters relating to specific individuals. The SHA produced 8 newsletters.

The plan is entitled \"A New Focus\" and can be downloaded from the website. The plan includes the following:

1. Implementing financial recovery plans.

2. Making the best use of hospitals and changing the pattern of hospital services to ensure more efficient use of money and staff and better services for patients.

3. Developing the role of community hospitals.

4. Developing services in the community, providing them as locally as possible to prevent the need for people to attend hospital.

5. Continuing to invest in more staff and service modernisation.

This has been a challenging first year for AGW. The inherited financial problems were significant and in the early part of the year some Acute and Primary Care Trusts had difficulty in hitting key government targets.

The SHA has successfully bid for financial support from the NHS Bank and the Department of Health. This will be used to address the financial difficulties facing AGW so that the NHS planned targets can be met whilst financial recovery plans are implemented.

Developments include the following:

Bristol Children's Hospital won a national award in the \"Building Better Health Care Awards' Scheme. Thehospital has 169 beds and uses colours, features and materials not normally associated with institutional buildings and is child friendly throughout.

The Mayor of Bath officially opened a new high energy x-ray machine at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

The Cotswold Unit opened at Southmead Hospital. This is a new 3.3 million pound Gynaecology complex which includes a new ward, day surgery areas, and two adjoining theatres with a recovery area.

Other important developments occurred including the establishment of Assertive Outreach Teams to improve the quality of services for adults with severe and enduring mental illness.

A six million pound 60-bed centre for people with complex rehabilitation needs, including stroke, has been established in Swindon (Bristol please note! Ed).