Shifting the Balance of Power in the National Health Service

Unless you have been cut off from all media communications you could not have failed to have heard the phase 'Shifting the Balance of Power' (StBOP), which has become affectionately known as Saint BOP by local Health Service staff. What is it all about? Sue Scott, Senior Programme Co-ordinator at Health Promotion attempts to explain.

StBOP is part of the Governments radical reform programme for the NHS and Social Care. The programme of change has been brought about to empower front line staff and patients. The main objective is to foster a new culture in the NHS at all levels that puts patients first.
The main feature of change has been the establishment of locally based Primary Health Care Trusts. Within North Staffordshire there are four such Trusts: Staffordshire Moorlands, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke South and Stoke North. The prime role of these locally based Trusts is to provide a local focus to improving the health of the population within their own areas.

The establishment of these locally based Trusts has meant abolishing the previous North Staffordshire Health Authority and creating a new one that serves a larger area and has a more strategic role. The new Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority is now up and running and covers the whole of Shropshire and Staffordshire.

The overall aim of StBOP is to be welcomed and there is a clear commitment by local Health Professionals to bring about the benefits such a change is designed to make; empowerment of frontline staff, planning based on local need and local knowledge, with a new culture that puts patients first can all only add up to improvement in services and in the health of the population of North Staffordshire.
If any one of your readers would like more information I would be happy to hear from them. Telephone 01782 400503 or email Sue.Scott@nsha.wmids.nhs.uk. Further information is also available on the Department of Health Website- www.doh.gov.uk/shiftingthebalance

Sue Scott
Senior Programme Co-ordinator, HIV/AIDS & Sexual Health,
North Staffs Health Promotion