NHS West Essex

NHS West Essex is a NHS primary care trust (PCT) in Essex, England.

Formed in October 2006 following the merger of the three previous primary care trusts - Epping Forest, Harlow and Uttlesford, it has an annual budget of £370m. It covers approximately 390 square miles (1,000 km²), from Buckhurst Hill to Steeple Bumpstead with a population of about 280,000.

It is responsible for improving primary care and the health of the local population and with a statutory responsibility for providing health services.

NHS West Essex web site www.westessexpct.nhs.uk

Health Services

NHS West Essex also plans and commissions (purchases) health services from hospitals for its local population from primarily four local hospital Trusts:

- Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrookes Hospital)

- Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust (Broomfield Hospital)

- Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust.

Community Health

NHS West Essex works closely with community health services, relying on the contribution that the network of community hospitals, health centres, GP practises, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists make to give the public access to a wide range of services without having to travel to hospital.

Across west Essex there are:

198 GPs in 40 practices

100 dentists in 32 practices

87 opticians in 31 practices

46 pharmacists

(Source: NHS West Essex Annual Report 2008-2009)

Trust Headquarters and Other Sites

The PCT headquarters is at St. Margaret’s Community Hospital in Epping.

NHS West Essex St. Margaret’s Community Hospital, The Plain, Epping, Essex. CM16 6TN

Other Sites:

---

Harlow Walk-in Centre 1a Wych Elm, Harlow, CM20 1QP

---

---

Ongar War Memorial Hospital 55 Fyfield Road, Ongar, CM5 0AL

---

Saffron Walden Community Hospital Radwinter Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3HY

---

St. Margaret’s Community Hospital The Plain, Epping, Essex, CM16 6TN

PCT Board

The NHS West Essex Board comprises a chairman, Alan Tobias, and five non-executive directors who are appointed by the Secretary of State, along with the chief executive, Catherine O’Connell, and directors and local GPs.

The board is responsible for the PCT’s strategic direction, its business plans and monitoring process, and also to ensure public accountability and involvement.

PCT Board Members

Alan Tobias OBE, Chairman

Catherine O’Connell, Chief Executive

Stephen King, Non-Executive Director

Jackie Sully, Non-Executive Director

John Lappin, Non-Executive Director

Qadir Bakhsh, Non-Executive Director

Michael Smith, Non-Executive Director

Dean Westcott, Director of Finance

Jenny Minihane, Director of Nursing and Modernisation

Alison Cowie, Director of Public Health

PCT Organisation

The organisation structure Organisation

References

Health in West Essex - Annual Report of the Director of Public Health 2007 Health in West Essex

NHS West Essex Annual Report 2008-2009 Annual Report 2008/2009

NHS West Essex Annual Report 2007-2008 Annual Report 2007/2008

Strategy for Healthcare - West Essex Primary Care Trust 2008-2012 Strategy for Healthcare 2008-2012

Freedom of Information - Publication Scheme NHS West Essex Freedom of information Act 2000 - Publication Scheme

The National Archives - West Essex Health Authority National Archives

The National Health Service - NHS (England) Wiki-Link