Surrey County Council is leading the way as local authorities are given a greater role in health. In the week the Coalition published its health bill, Surrey will pilot plans to hand responsibility back to councils for the Department of Health. The bill to reform the NHS paves the way for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to be phased out by 2013. Councils will take on the public health role of care trusts and local consortia of GPs will be responsible for planning and buying health services. Surrey has been named by the Department of Health as one of its an ‘early implementer’ authorities nationally and will pilot the plans to hand responsibility and accountability back to councils.

Michael Gosling, the council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Surrey is at the forefront of important new ways of working and we are more than ready to play our part in improving local health services.

“It is right that councils and local communities are freed up to decide how best to improve the health and wellbeing of their residents. Promoting healthy lifestyles and helping people live independently longer is at the heart of what councils do.

“The changes have already started with the appointment of a joint director of public health with the NHS to ensure a smooth transition and now we’ll press ahead with setting up our health and wellbeing board to integrate services and support GPs in their commissioning role.”

Director of Public Health for Surrey Dr Akeem Ali said: “I am delighted that Surrey will be at the forefront of plans to further improve how the NHS and county councils work together.

"Our focus must be on improving health and addressing health inequalities throughout people’s lives and giving the support that everyone needs to make healthier choices. It is vital that we improve wellbeing as well as treat sickness and the county council will take a leading role in achieving this ambition for the people of Surrey.”

The council will set up a new health and wellbeing board by May to promote greater local control over health services and join up social care, NHS services and health improvement.

The health and wellbeing board will operate in shadow form until the care trust ceases to exist in April 2013. The board is expected to include senior staff from the council’s children’s and adult social care services, councillors and GPs.

As well as scrutinising commissioning arrangements, the board will lead on the joint strategic needs assessment and develop a health and wellbeing strategy for Surrey.

The council will also prepare to take responsibility for improving public health and will help to set local priorities and support GPs’ commissioning.

In addition, Surrey will be establish a local HealthWatch to represent NHS patients’ views and concerns in place of the Local Involvement Network.

Director of Public Health for Surrey Dr Akeem Ali is a joint appointment between NHS Surrey and Surrey County Council. He started his job in December, taking over from Dr Ruth Milton.