Mersey Dee Strategic Commissioning

Mersey Dee Strategic Commissioning
Name	Mersey Dee Strategic Commissioning
Type	Health and social care commissioning body
Location	North West England and North Wales
Formed	2010s
Jurisdiction	Cheshire West and Chester, Wirral, Halton, parts of Flintshire
Chair	[Name redacted]
Website	[official site]

Mersey Dee Strategic Commissioning is a regional commissioning collaboration covering health and social care services across parts of North West England and North Wales, involving local authorities, integrated care systems, and NHS organisations. The partnership coordinates procurement, service redesign, and provider engagement to deliver integrated pathways across hospital trusts, clinical commissioning groups, and community providers.

History

The initiative emerged from joint planning between Cheshire West and Chester Council, Wirral Council, Halton Borough Council, Flintshire County Council, NHS England, and neighbouring Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board following national reforms such as the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and austerity-era commissioning reviews. Early projects referenced collaborations with University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and local voluntary sector partners including Citizen's Advice and Age UK. Development phases reflected policy drivers associated with the Five Year Forward View and regional planning linked to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and cross-border mechanisms seen in prior arrangements like the Mersey Dee Alliance.

Governance and Structure

Governance arrangements include a joint committee style board drawing representatives from Cheshire West and Chester Council, Wirral Council, Halton Borough Council, Flintshire County Council, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, and senior leaders from acute providers such as Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Operational subgroups engage directors from Public Health England (now functions within UK Health Security Agency and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities), chief finance officers linked to HM Treasury guidance, and legal advisers familiar with Care Act 2014 obligations. Stakeholder forums have included trade union representation from Unison, charitable partners like Royal Voluntary Service, and independent sector providers such as Bupa and Care UK.

Functions and Responsibilities

The commissioning remit spans contracts, needs assessment, and pathway commissioning for services spanning acute care, mental health, community nursing, and social care support. Responsibilities include pooled budget arrangements influenced by Better Care Fund criteria, procurement compliant with Public Contracts Regulations 2015, and service redesign consistent with NHS Long Term Plan priorities. It also oversees population health initiatives linked to programmes run by Public Health Wales and regional workforce planning aligned with Health Education England and training providers including University of Chester.

Service Areas and Partnerships

Service portfolios address adult social care, specialist older people services, learning disability pathways, mental health rehabilitation, children’s complex care, and intermediate care. Key partnerships include referrals and pathway integration with Alder Hey Children's Hospital, commissioning discussions with Royal Albert Dock regeneration stakeholders, cross-border agreements with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and provider relationships with trusts such as Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and East Cheshire NHS Trust. Collaborative projects have interfaced with national initiatives such as NHS Digital data programmes and local enterprise partnerships including the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

Funding and Budgeting

Funding arrangements combine contributions from constituent councils, allocations from NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, and pooled funds governed under Section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006. Budget management requires liaison with HM Treasury fiscal frameworks, audit input from National Audit Office-style assurance processes, and compliance with accounting standards overseen by bodies like Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Cost-containment efforts have responded to national commissioning guidance from NHS Improvement and regional allocations influenced by Integrated Care Boards.

Performance and Accountability

Performance monitoring uses metrics drawn from NHS England performance frameworks, Care Quality Commission inspection outcomes, and local authority scrutiny committees such as those in Cheshire West and Chester Council. Accountability routes include reporting to constituent council cabinets, integrated care board performance meetings, and statutory obligations under the Care Act 2014 and Mental Health Act 1983. External assurance has involved peer reviews with neighbouring systems like Merseyside health economy partners and audit by external auditors appointed under public sector audit regimes.

Controversies and Reviews

The commissioning collaborative has faced scrutiny over contract awards, cross-border eligibility, and service closures, prompting reviews similar in nature to inquiries involving Keogh Review-style clinical assurance and local scrutiny panels like those convened by Local Government Association. Debates have invoked concerns raised by trade unions such as Unison and voluntary sector organisations including Age UK about consultation adequacy, and audits referencing challenges highlighted in reports by bodies analogous to the National Audit Office. Periodic restructurings have been influenced by national policy shifts and local legal advice tied to cross-border commissioning precedents.

Category:Health commissioning in England Category:Health in Cheshire Category:Health in Merseyside Category:Cross-border health services