Patient care heading for healthy future

A NEW group in control of £300m of taxpayers’ cash in Oldham will officially become established from April.

NHS Oldham’s Clinical Commissioning Group is one of only 35 “wave one” groups to receive the authorisation, and sp far the only one in Greater Manchester.

NHS Oldham CCG — which replaces the Primary Care Trust — will allow local health professionals the freedom to develop services in a way that meets the needs and wishes of local people.

The new system hopes to offer better treatment, greater patient safety, quality, innovation, public participation and an improved patient experience.

Dr Ian Wilkinson, who is chief clinical officer for the new organisation explained that final authorisation was the culmination of two years of work to put the “health and experiences of people in Oldham central to our decision making.”