Friday 5 April 2013

I hope you all had a well deserved and restful Easter break.

The long weekend meant this week has been a little quieter, but I realise this is a lull before the storm as the next few weeks will be extremely busy.

On Tuesday I chaired the last meeting of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board, which has been in place for the last 18 months and has proved to be a good opportunity to build strong relationships with our partners in health in the run up to the Board becoming official on 1 April 2013. Also, from 1st April we took on responsibility for the public health functions. The public health team is now in situ in County Hall and is working with many services to the benefit of communities across Wiltshire.

I was also pleased that on Thursday I met with representatives from the Wessex Local Medical Committee. The committee represents hundreds of GP practices across the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire. We discussed how we can work more closely with local GPs through the new Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It’s an interesting time as the changes to the NHS and public health services are implemented. We are building a new set of relationships and partnerships that will be the foundation for improving local healthcare and public health over the next few years. 

Yesterday, I also attended a meeting of the campus community operations boards (COB’s) chairs network, a meeting which allows the local community chairs to come together to discuss the progress on the campus programmes, as well as any issues, and to share experiences and best practice. It was good to share the excellent news that a key milestone was achieved last week when work started on the Corsham campus. What’s important is that we acknowledge that every community is unique and that we consider their specific needs and reflect these in each campus.

I’m looking forward to next week when two of our local bishops’ will be joining us in County Hall before they take to the road to cycle to raise money for Christian Aid. The Bishops of Ramsbury and Swindon are cycling an amazing 165 miles, as part of Christian Aid week, visiting sixteen Christian Aid centres in Wiltshire. We have agreed to give them a good send off and support their quest to raise awareness of world hunger and to raise at least £500.

More next week by which time I am promised spring will have arrived - albeit so late this year!

Jane