NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is working in partnership with the other seven CCGs in Lancashire and South Cumbria to review clinical policies across the region.

The eight CCGs across Lancashire and South Cumbria have all agreed that there is a need to review their clinical policies in order to: ensure a consistent and fair approach; update current policies in accordance with National Guidelines and best clinical practice and to make sure it is using its limited resources to maximum effect.

As part of this ongoing process, two draft policies are now available for patient and public engagement and feedback. These policies are: the commissioning of photorefractive surgery for the correction of refractive error (laser eye surgery for common sight problems); policy for the management Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) using grommets (the treatment of glue ear for children under 12 using grommets).

Residents of West Lancashire are therefore invited to read these new and revised policies and provide their feedback and comments by completing the relevant survey. This can all be accessed by visiting the CCG’s website: http://bit.ly/WLCCGpolicies.

The policies and surveys can be posted out to any residents who do not have access to a computer by calling the CCG on 01695 588 203. Comments on the policies should be submitted by Friday 3 August 2018.

Greg Mitten, chief officer of West Lancs CVS and lay member for patient and public involvement at NHS West Lancashire CCG, said: “The CCG is responsible for commissioning a wide range of clinical services, including GP services, hospital services, community, mental health and learning disability services, for and on behalf of, the local population of which we serve.

“We need to ensure this is done in an open, fair and transparent manner but in so doing we must consider the limited resources we have.

“A key role for the CCG is to develop clinical policies that help us make decisions about the use of those limited resources.

“The policies that we are currently consulting on may have an impact on many of our residents, it is therefore vitally important that our population have their say on what we are proposing.”