NHS England South West’s work

NHS England has a number of priorities and in the South West we have established a number of programme boards at a regional level to ensure these priorities are delivered locally.

Our local teams also make sure that people have access to high quality primary care services (which include GPs, dentists, opticians and pharmacists) and they work with local integrated care boards who are responsible for ensuring appropriate, efficient and good quality hospital care (secondary care) is provided.

A significant part of our work in the region is to assure the work of the integrated care boards, making sure they have good plans in place to meet the health needs of their population, are well led and are managing budgets responsibly.

We are also responsible for specialised commissioning, making sure patients with illnesses that require specialist treatment (such as patients with rare forms of cancer; neuro muscular disorders etc.) can access the treatment they need and that it is provided to a specific standard.

In Bristol we have teams responsible for commissioning health services or facilities for people in prison and for the armed forces.

Our priorities include: