New consultation launched on health and wellbeing board duties

A new consultation has been launched by the Department of Health to solicit opinions on the exact role that will be played by health and wellbeing boards.

Draft guidance has been set out that outlines duties underpinning joint strategic needs assessments (JSNAs) and joint health and wellbeing strategies (JHWSs) to be undertaken by clinical commissioning groups and local authorities through health and wellbeing boards from April 2013.

It explains how JSNAs and JHWSs will fit together with commissioning plans in the modernised health and care system and sets out how they will make improvements to care quality.

The consultation will run for eight weeks and help to define a plan of action that will ultimately deliver a better standard of services for local populations.

Health minister Anne Milton said: "I would encourage everyone to take part in this consultation and have their say on our plans to ensure they get better health and care services locally."

Last week, the government announced that it will be streamlining service provision further through the introduction of prescribing power for advanced practitioner physiotherapists and podiatrists.