A joint committee of NHS Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Groups met 12 December 2016 and agreed that they were not yet ready to go to public consultation on proposals to reconfigure acute hospital services in Shrewsbury and Telford until further work is carried out.
This means that the two commissioning bodies in England have referred the proposals back to the NHS Future Fit Programme Board. We anticipate that a revised timetable for the work going forward will be agreed soon, including an external and independent review of the NHS Future Fit process.
The committee comprised six representatives nominated by NHS Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group and six representative nominated by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group. It had been established in order to consider a recommendation from the NHS Future Fit Programme to proceed to consultation based on a preferred option which would see Princess Royal Hospital become the county’s main centre for planned care, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital become the county’s main centre for emergency care and Women & Children’s inpatient services, and both hospitals with an Urgent Care Centre which would continue to see the majority of patients currently seen by the existing A&E services at the hospital.
The six members of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group voted in favour of the recommendation whilst the six members of NHS Telford & Wrekin voted against. With the vote tied, the recommendation was passed back to the NHS Future Fit Programme for further work.
For communities in mid Wales –and across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin – the prospect of changes to our valued health services is understandably a source of anxiety. This is also true for staff working in these services, keen for clarity on their futures given the years of debate without resolution.
Last night’s decision is disappointing. It means further delay in resolving the uncertainty facing hospital services, and further delay in progressing to a vital open dialogue with local communities through public consultation.
Decisions are needed, and they are needed fast, in order to ensure that Shropshire’s hospitals remain safe and sustainable today and for future generations. Doing nothing is not an option.
We remain fully committed to working with our colleagues across the border in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to secure the future, and to proceed swiftly to an open and transparent consultation process that offers all communities the opportunity to air their views.
Whilst this uncertainty continues, we remain keen to hear from local people so that we can continue to work with our partners in England to ensure safe and accessible healthcare for Powys communities.
Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive, Powys Teaching Health Board
This means that the two commissioning bodies in England have referred the proposals back to the NHS Future Fit Programme Board. We anticipate that a revised timetable for the work going forward will be agreed soon, including an external and independent review of the NHS Future Fit process.
The committee comprised six representatives nominated by NHS Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group and six representative nominated by Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group. It had been established in order to consider a recommendation from the NHS Future Fit Programme to proceed to consultation based on a preferred option which would see Princess Royal Hospital become the county’s main centre for planned care, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital become the county’s main centre for emergency care and Women & Children’s inpatient services, and both hospitals with an Urgent Care Centre which would continue to see the majority of patients currently seen by the existing A&E services at the hospital.
The six members of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group voted in favour of the recommendation whilst the six members of NHS Telford & Wrekin voted against. With the vote tied, the recommendation was passed back to the NHS Future Fit Programme for further work.
For communities in mid Wales –and across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin – the prospect of changes to our valued health services is understandably a source of anxiety. This is also true for staff working in these services, keen for clarity on their futures given the years of debate without resolution.
Last night’s decision is disappointing. It means further delay in resolving the uncertainty facing hospital services, and further delay in progressing to a vital open dialogue with local communities through public consultation.
Decisions are needed, and they are needed fast, in order to ensure that Shropshire’s hospitals remain safe and sustainable today and for future generations. Doing nothing is not an option.
We remain fully committed to working with our colleagues across the border in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to secure the future, and to proceed swiftly to an open and transparent consultation process that offers all communities the opportunity to air their views.
Whilst this uncertainty continues, we remain keen to hear from local people so that we can continue to work with our partners in England to ensure safe and accessible healthcare for Powys communities.
Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive, Powys Teaching Health Board
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