But the government has now decided to amend these plans following a consultation on the white paper that yielded more than 6,000 responses – many of which claimed maternity services should be commissioned by GPs to better reflect local needs.
Following the consultation, the government has also decided to strengthen the role of new local health and wellbeing boards, by giving boards a statutory duty to develop joint health and wellbeing strategies spanning the NHS, social care, public health and other local services. Directors of children’s services will be statutory members of these boards.
Legislation to cement the reforms will be introduced in a health and social care bill in the new year. This bill will place a duty on the NHS Commissioning Board and GP commissioners to promote the welfare of children and young people, and take part in Local Safeguarding Children Boards.
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