A council has scrapped plans to outsource children’s community health services in light of new opportunities opened up by a historic devolution deal.
Cornwall Council and NHS Kernow have confirmed that they are stopping their current procurement of children’s community health services.
The local authority said it now wanted to explore how last month’s devolution deal could deliver closer integration between health and social care services.
Cornwall last month became the first rural county to be given devolved powers over services including health and social care in a government deal labelled ‘historic’ by communities secretary Greg Clark.
In a joint statement, Joy Youart, managing director at NHS Kernow and Trevor Doughty, corporate director for education, health and social care at Cornwall Council, said: ‘This decision will allow NHS Kernow and Cornwall Council to explore alternatives to deliver seamless children’s services, which is in line with our plans to integrate commissioning as set out in the deal
‘We remain committed to ensuring children and young people have the best start in life and the support they need to realise their ambitions. It is our vision to improve people’s health and experience of care, provide early help and reduce the cost of care.
‘Children and their families using existing services will not be affected by this decision. They should attend appointments as normal – children will continue to receive appropriate services according to their needs.
‘As always, we will ensure that any future tender process adheres to relevant legislation.’
