Changes in the NHS

The NHS is no stranger to restructure and change. Further restructure is currently taking place with the introduction of clinical commissioning. Moving to clinical commissioning will transfer responsibility for commissioning maternity services from primary care trusts (PCTs) working in collaboration with local maternity service providers and acute trusts to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) working in partnership with health and wellbeing boards and the NHS commissioning board (NHSCB). This restructure aims to increase consultation with clinical service providers and to move service planning nearer to the service user. Maternity care provision is complex and challenging. Despite these challenges, restructures must enable services to reduce morbidity, increase efficiency and improve safety and women's experiences of maternity services.