Healthcare in Hertfordshire

Healthcare in Hertfordshire is now the responsibility of Herts Valleys, East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Groups.

History

From 1947 to 1965 NHS services in Hertfordshire were managed by the North-West Metropolitan, East Anglian and North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Boards. In 1974 the Boards were abolished and replaced by Regional Health Authorities. Hertfordshire came under the North West Metropolitan RHA. Regions were reorganised in 1996 and Hertfordshire came under the North West Thames Regional Health Authority. Hertfordshire was one of the Area Health Authorities, subdivided into four District Authorities: North, East, South West and South West. in 1993 the county was divided into three Health authorities: East and North Hertfordshire; North West Hertfordshire; South West Hertfordshire. Regional Health Authorities were reorganised and renamed Strategic Health Authorities in 2002. Hertfordshire was under Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA. In 2006 regions were again reorganised and Hertfordshire came under NHS East of England until that was abolished in 2013. There was one Primary Care Trust for the area.

Commissioning

In October 2017 the two CCGs decided that obese patients “will not get non‐urgent surgery until they reduce their weight” unless there are “exceptional circumstances” and Smokers would not be referred for non-urgent surgery “unless they have stopped smoking for eight weeks or more”. They also decided to reduce funding for In vitro fertilisation from three cycles to one for patients who meet the criteria; that female sterilisation will only be funded in exceptional circumstances; that gluten free food will not be available on prescription for most patients who need it; and that over the counter medicines will no longer be prescribed except in exceptional circumstances.

Herts Valleys needs to save £45 million in 2017-18 to break even. East and North Hertfordshire needs to save £23 million.[1]

Primary and community care

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Acute care

The main providers of NHS acute hospital care in the county are West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. Ambulance services are provided by East of England Ambulance Service.

Mental health

NHS Mental Health services are provided by Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "CCGs demand patients lose weight or face indefinite wait for surgery". Health Service Journal. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
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