Shropshire Council’s response to Future Fit
Whilst Shropshire Council understands the concerns that some politicians are raising, this does not change Shropshire Council’s view, which has remained consistent regarding the configuration of acute health services. These health services should be based on the best clinical evidence, rather than political opinion, to ensure that safe and effective acute hospital services are available for all communities in the county of Shropshire.
At its regular meeting with MPs this afternoon (Friday 7 October), Councillor Lee Chapman on behalf of Shropshire Council’s Cabinet, along with senior officers from Shropshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group, Shropshire’s Community Health Trust and West Midlands Ambulance Service, discussed Future Fit and the associated community health and social care services.
Councillor Chapman said;
“We know that the location of emergency services at Shropshire’s hospitals is a very significant and emotive issue for all of Shropshire residents, so I took the opportunity today to emphasise to our MPs that Shropshire Council wishes to ensure that any decisions concerning the health of all people in Shropshire, are clinically and not politically led.
“Shropshire Council recognises that there are very experienced clinicians who are striving to ensure that local people have safe and effective health and social care services. We therefore continue to have confidence in Future Fit and acknowledge the board’s decision this week to defer any recommendations, in order to address the concerns that have been raised by Telford and Wrekin Council. We have been reassured that any subsequent decisions by the CCG boards will be based on the best interests of patient safety.”
Shropshire Council’s elected members and officers will continue to engage positively in Future Fit and associated review programmes. We will continue to support and also to challenge our NHS partners through our Health and Wellbeing Board, to ensure that the Future Fit programme is fit for purpose, and that the health needs of Shropshire residents remain at the heart of any decision-making.
Shropshire Council will be meeting Shropshire’s CCG as a matter of urgency to discuss the way forward. In the meantime we strongly encourage residents to find out more about Future Fit and what it means to them by going along to the many ‘pop up stands’ the CCGs are arranging across the county.
People can also get involved by going to: www.nhsfuturefit.org/get-involved.
