Councillors fear for Luton health services after CCG merger announced with Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire

Challney councillor Tom Shaw told the council’s scrutiny health and social care review group last week that the local authority’s preference was for a Luton CCG.

“We seem to have moved on from there,” he said. “When did that decision change? Why has it not gone back to the council?

“And is it the health and well-being board trying to change that decision or is it officers?” asked councillor Shaw.

“What you’re saying tonight goes against what the council has said already.”

Limbury councillor Rob Roche said: “Concerns have been mentioned here already about what we have locally.

“We are concerned that local focus will be lost.”

Luton CCG’s chief operating officer Nicky Poulain said: “We absolutely heard the borough council would much prefer and just wants Luton CCG to remain.

“It’s NHS policy. It’s the creation of these integrated care systems.

“The decision is at a national level. Milton Keynes don’t feel different from Luton.

“Everyone would like it kept small. We can recognise there are some economies of scale, such as having one IT system.

“It’s not health and wellbeing boards or officers pushing this.”

Dr Nicola Smith will chair the merged CCG initially, according to the chief operating officer.

Dr Smith currently chairs Milton Keynes CCG and the local health and wellbeing board.

She has been a GP for 17 years and is the senior partner at Parkside Medical Centre in Bletchley.

The aim is to establish one clinical commissioning group across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes by April 2021.

Dr Nina Pearson, who chairs Luton CCG, has chosen to step down when the merger happens.

A GP for 31 years, Dr Pearson is currently a part-time partner with Lea Vale Medical Group in the town.

Chief operating officer Ms Poulain added: “That discussion and agreement has very much taken place with Nina.

“She has chosen herself not to apply. It’s obviously a different job being chair of Luton to being in that role for BLMK in the future.

“Nina has chosen to step down, but we are very lucky because she has elected to apply for a job that she was successful with recently.

“So she will remain in the Luton and Bedfordshire system as the director of clinical transformation.

“I want to give you that assurance about localism as we are keeping some of our key colleagues.”

The chief operating officer said she would remain in post until the end of this month and then she will be the executive lead for Luton.

“All of our Luton board members remain during this transition process, but clearly there is alot of work taking place to work to become one.

“This is not about stopping what’s working well. Alot of back office function is economy and efficiency for the taxpayer.

“We have agreed we’ll need one transition chairman, so that person will chair NHS BLMK for the first few months to give a little continuity.

“There will be a robust process for appointing a chairman when we become a new organisation.”

The borough council’s director of public health and wellbeing Gerry Taylor said: “I have talked to council leader Hazel Simmons about how we bring back some of this through the local authority.”