Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin

It is unfortunate that due to the decision by NHS England asking all local teams not to communicate any information about their Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP), we now see inaccurate reports in the national media.

The STPs have been discussed for several months with health, local government, regulatory bodies and the third sector. The idea has been to collaboratively prepare a credible plan for delivering better services whilst also identifying cost savings. The work around STPs involves the creation of 44 geographical “footprints” across the UK, ours being Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

It has been recognised that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to health and social care across the UK is not possible, as population needs across the country vary from one area to another. So each ‘footprint’ will have different priorities based on their geographical, social and political nature.

Every footprint has been asked to provide details of the work undertaken and their future plans, with this information being used by central government to identify best practice and support improvements.

The footprints are further broken down geographically into what have been deemed “neighbourhoods” and locally they consist of Shropshire, Powys and Telford & Wrekin. Each neighbourhood consists of organisations and groups, bringing communities and professionals together to form a shared vision for local services.

The neighbourhoods are key to the success of the project as it is this collaborative, localised approach that will deliver innovative solutions for keeping people out of hospital. Avoiding a fall or working together to tackle obesity can have a lasting legacy on someone’s health, and it is hoped that this new approach will deliver new and beneficial services for the whole county.

The plans encourage organisations providing services to maintain and improve people’s health, to work more closely and identify areas where other solutions might be available. By working more closely, not only will this help achieve savings, but most importantly provide a better and all-round universal health and social care service to those who need it.

In Shropshire we have been adopting this approach for some time through the work of Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board, a partnership made up of representatives across health and social care organisations. Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin STP will continue the work of the health and well-being boards, including local needs assessments, and health and well-being strategies.

Karen Calder, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health and well-being, and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board, said:-

“Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board’s key priority is to improve the health and well-being of local people by working together to identify and address Shropshire’s local health and social care needs. Although the STP plans are still in their early stage, much of the work links closely with our Health and Well-being Strategy and priorities.

“Shropshire’s Health and Well-being board will play a central role in the development of our local STP, and will oversee what is referred to as the ‘neighbourhood’ stream of the plan. This part of the STP plan will be led by the local authority.”

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adults, and member of Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board, added:

“In light of the recent news coverage around the NHS Sustainability and Transformation Plans, it’s unfortunate that the work being planned to date has not been publicly announced, as this would have helped mitigate the hearsay we are now seeing in the media.

“There is no denying that health and social care services can be delivered more effectively and efficiently if we work together. The STP gives extra impetus to deliver improved services for residents whilst saving money. We are ahead of the game in Shropshire, we have already made great progress in delivering more joined up work through our Health and Well-being Boards and the STP will progress this further.”

There are a number of working groups being led by senior staff from both health and local government, focussing on specific areas where improvements to services can be made. Trials have also been developed to deliver specific services and a selection of these are underway.

It is important to re-emphasise that this is still a project in the planning stages. A Communication and Engagement group has been set up and will play a pivotal role in communicating Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin STP once plans have been defined.

A consultation process will begin in the coming months and the STPs will be worked through towards the summer of 2017. The STP will continue to evolve, but by working together with health, social care, third sector and voluntary organisations, we can deliver new and innovative benefits for residents across the county.

Further information:

• The Health and Well-being Board (HWBB) acts to ensure that key leaders from the health and care system work together to improve the health and well-being of Shropshire residents. Health and Well-being Board members collaborate to understand their local community’s needs, agree priorities and work together to plan how best to deliver services.
• Currently the Board has membership from Shropshire Council, Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Healthwatch Shropshire, the Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA) and the NHS Local Area Team. The Board is co-chaired by Councillor Karen Calder and Dr Julian Povey from the CCG.
• HWBB members work together to understand their local community’s needs, agree priorities, and make decisions to improve the health and well-being of local people in Shropshire.
• The Board includes democratically-elected councillors (currently, Karen Calder,  David Minnery, and Lee Chapman) who represent the people of Shropshire.
• The STPs are designed to be “collective discussion forums which aim to bring together health and care leaders to support the delivery of improved health and care, based on the needs of local populations”.

The role of health and well-being boards in STPs

The STP guidance is clear about the crucial role of local government, highlighting that success requires the engagement of all partners across a local system. It encourages STPs to build on the work of health and well-being boards, including local needs assessments, and health and well-being strategies. The boards will be central to the development of STPs, as a system-wide forum with a democratic mandate from local communities.

Future Fit and the decisions regarding acute services for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are a component of the STP.