Social Services North West Conference 

Reebok Stadium, Bolton - Friday 26 April 2002

SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE

120 people gathered at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton on Friday 26 April 2002 for a varied programme addressing key issues around the modernisation of health and social care.  The event proved particularly topical because the three new Strategic Health Authorities for the North West region had just been established, together with Primary Care Trusts in every locality.  The Government's commitments in the 2002 budget to increased long-term funding for both health and social care also helped to make this the beginning of a new era in these two vital public services, which need to work ever more closely together.

In opening the conference, Social Services North West Chair Councillor Cliff Morris (Bolton) welcomed the strong representation from NHS organizations, as well as many members and officers from Social Services Departments across the North West. He referred to the NHS Plan and the massive programme of reform which followed.  With the Budget last week they had matched their ambitions with tangible long-term resources.  He noted the promise of a significant increase in resources for the personal social services, and welcomed the Government’s recognition that its aims for the NHS will not be fulfilled unless social care is adequately funded.

Councillor Morris went on: "As the new organisational pattern has come into place, with Primary Care Trusts right across the region, we in local government have drawn even closer to the NHS, and have more and more aims in common.  We accept completely that health and social care must work together as a single system.  But we believe the best means of achieving this is through voluntary local agreements which suit local needs.  Progress is achieved by winning hearts and minds, and we believe the evidence on the ground shows continuous improvement at the interface between health and social care across the North West."

He then introduced the first keynote speaker, Peter Garland, Director of Health and Social Care - North in the Department of Health, who would speak on Modernising the NHS

Peter Garland began by referring to the step change in health and social care investment in the 2002 budget: NHS average of 7.5% real terms growth over 5 years and PSS average 6.0% real terms growth over 3 years.  He then reviewed the four key components of the regeneration of public services: high national standards and clear accountability; devolution of power and resources to the front line; increased flexibility between services and between staff; and diversity of providers and choice for consumers.  He praised the developments already taking place in the North West and particularly the joint work taking place between health and social care.  In conclusion, he said that although there was now big money available, we faced big changes and big challenges.  We mustn’t miss this opportunity.

Click here to read the overheads from Peter Garland's speech

There followed a presentation from four key managers in Knowsley, who are all now jointly employed by Knowsley MBC and Knowsley Primary Care Trust.  Their presentation was entitled Breaking down the barriers in Knowsley - Building the Future.  Anita Marsland, Chief Executive of Health and Social Care outlined the history and demography of Knowsley and how the Council was addressing the key issues for the community's well being.  Diana Forrest, Director of Public Health then outlined the history and role of Directors of Public Health in addressing health inequalities, and the work done through the Knowsley Health Plan and the Health Action Zone to address these.  Jan Coulter, Deputy Director, Health and Social Care spoke about Knowsley's performance against key social and health care indicators, and how the problematic areas were being tackled through integrated and innovative schemes.  Moya Sutton, Assistant Director, Children and Families then spoke from her perspective as manager of integrated children's services, about the needs of children, the strategic context in which they were being addressed, and operational developments in Knowsley.

Click here to read the text from the Knowsley PowerPoint presentation

Click here to send an email requesting the full presentation - type 'Knowsley' as the title of your email

The afternoon session was based on the Government's initiatives in Involving Patients and the Public in Health Care.  Hazel Blears MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department of Health, was the keynote speaker.  In introducing her, Chair Councillor Cliff Morris said that Social Services North West had welcomed the scrutiny role for local authorities in relation to health, but there was widespread concern about the abolition of CHCs. We have been pleased however to be involved in the consultations on the new arrangements, and welcome several significant improvements which have been introduced over recent months.

Hazel Blears welcomed the opportunity to speak to an excellent organisation which gave people the opportunity to discuss ideas and share good practice.  She went on "It is absolutely clear to me that if you want a patient focused NHS, and if you want public services to improve the public’s health, you need to make sure that patients and the public are placed at the heart of decisions about matters that impact on health.  The Government is absolutely determined to shift the balance of power – and I don’t just mean in terms of shifting power to the frontline of health services. Today I want to talk through shifting the balance of power to patients and the public – giving real clout to users of health services, and real clout to citizens – the people who pay for health services."  She then outlined the radical changes the Government is making to the ways in which patients and the public can not only get involved in decisions affecting health services – but ways in which they can really shape the planning, development and nature of services – locally, regionally and at the national level. 

Click here to read the speech of Hazel Blears MP

Then followed a presentation entitled Involving Salford People.  It was introduced by Peter Connor, Lead Member for Community and Social Services, Salford City Council and  Dr Eileen Fairhurst, Chair, Salford Primary Care Trust.  They described how in Salford, many groups and individuals had been enabled and encouraged to make their own contribution to improving their own health and well being, and that of others.  Speeches were then made by Jacqui Pollock on ‘From Pain to Power', Cath Saunders and Sue Hinder on ‘Real Time Community Change’, and Caroline Brown and Justine Fairbrother on ‘Breast Mates’.  These were followed by questions and discussion from the floor.

Click here to read a summary of the Salford presentations

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