HEALTHCARE systems in Oxfordshire must adopt a "joined-up" approach to combat problems rooted in poor communication, an expert stressed.

Eddie Duller OBE, chairman of Healthwatch Oxfordshire, urged hospitals, GPs and the county council to collaborate ahead of "dramatic" and potentially "controversial" changes to the system. 

He wrote in the consumer champion's annual newsletter: "The current set-up for providing health and social care is complicated and we are campaigning for a more joined up approach to overcome many of the problems caused by poor communication between the hospitals, the county council who commission home care, and in many cases between GPs and the rest of the system.

"The coming year will see some of the most dramatic changes in the way people are looked after for many years. It will result, in three or four years’ time, in a completely new model of care described by the authorities as being patient-centred and delivered closer to home."

Healthwatch Oxfordshire is an independent body that works to voice concerns of patients and members of the public to healthcare providers.

In the report published today, Mr Duller added: "We are pressing the authorities to include the general public in planning these changes because we believe that the people who pay for the services through their taxes should be involved in shaping those services from an early stage.

"The changes will mean different roles for community hospitals, doctors and nurses and some of those changes will be controversial."

He pledged to provide updates throughout the year in "plain English as opposed to jargon", assuring readers that he was "on their side". 

The report also detailed ambitions for the coming year, including to conduct at least one major or two smaller projects into the quality of local services, and to engage "seldom-heard" groups.