Local people to shape the future of local hospital services in Future Fit public consultation
News from our partners NHS Future Fit
The transformation of local hospital services is now in the hands of local people with the launch today (Wednesday 30 May 2018) of the 14-week Future Fit public consultation.
NHS Future Fit is about improving the hospital services provided at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, to meet the needs of communities across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid-Wales.
NHS Future Fit consultation
Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Telford & Wrekin CCG are asking for the views of people on the following two options:
| Option1: The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital becomes an Emergency Care site and the Princess Royal Hospital becomes a Planned Care site (This is the CCGs’ preferred option)
Option 2: The Princess Royal Hospital becomes an Emergency Care site and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital becomes a Planned Care site
Under either option, both hospitals would have an Urgent Care Centre that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. where patients would receive care for illnesses and injuries that are not life or limb-threatening but require urgent attention. |
Having a single Emergency Care site would mean that specialist doctors can treat the most serious cases in a dedicated emergency department, which is proven to be safer, provide better results for patients and reduce the amount of time people have to stay in hospital.
Having a dedicated Planned Care site would mean that patients will wait less time for their appointments and beds would be protected for planned operations, meaning that is highly unlikely operations will be cancelled due to emergency admissions. Under either option, the proposals mean that the county will keep the full range of services already offered with high quality, state-of-the-art care for patients available at two vibrant local hospitals.
Dr Simon Freeman, Accountable Officer, NHS Shropshire CCG, said:
“Over the last four and a half years, we’ve listened to what local people have told us about the services and care they expect us to offer at the two hospitals in the future. We understand people’s frustration at the time it has taken to reach this point. However, we are now urging people to take the opportunity to formally have their say, so that we can consider their views and any changes we may need to make to our proposed plans before making any decisions.”
Mr David Evans, Chief Officer, NHS Telford & Wrekin CCG, said:
“A formal public consultation is the way the NHS has to seek people’s views on significant changes to services. Over the next 14 weeks we will be working hard to make sure that people understand the issues we need to solve and the proposed changes we need to hear their views on. It’s important that people share with us what the options mean for them and what we need to consider putting in place or changing so that they can receive the best possible care in the future.”
Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, adult social care and housing, also commented, saying:
“We believe the health needs of Shropshire residents should remain at the heart of any decision-making and recognise there are very experienced clinicians who are striving to ensure that local people have safe and effective health and social care services.
“We know that the location of emergency services at Shropshire’s hospitals is a very significant and emotive issue for all of Shropshire residents. This is why it is so important for everyone to get involved and take part in the consultation, to help shape the future of health services, not just for us now but for our future generation.”
To help explain the proposed changes and give local people the chance to find out more, the CCGs have developed a wide range of consultation materials, videos, a new website and are arranging and attending events and meetings, including eight public exhibitions, and public pop-up events around the county.
Materials include a full consultation document, a summary document, Easy Read versions, Word and large print versions. All these materials, along with answers to the most frequently asked questions, videos and an online survey, are available to view at a new website: www.nhsfuturefit.org. Paper copies of the consultation documents will also be made available at both hospitals and at public and community venues across the area.
There are several ways you can take part in the consultation:
- Fill out the survey online on the website www.nhsfuturefit.org
- Complete the survey that is available in the consultation documents and post it free of charge to FREEPOST NHS FF CONSULTATION
- Write to FREEPOST NHS FF CONSULTATION
- Email nhsfuturefit@nhs.net
- Request materials by calling 0300 3000 903 (24-hour answer machine)
- Follow Future Fit on social media
- Twitter: @NHSFutureFit
- Facebook: facebook.com/nhsff
Eight public events have been organised as an opportunity for people to meet doctors, nurses and other health professionals, ask questions and find out more about the proposals.
Everyone is welcome to drop in any time from 3.30pm to 7.30pm on the following dates at the following locations:
| Date | Venue |
| 6 June | Meeting Point House, Southwater Square, Telford, TF3 4HS |
| 7 June | Shrewsbury Town Football Club, Oteley Road, Shrewsbury SY2 6ST |
| 28 June | Elephant & Castle Hotel, Broad Street, Newtown, Wales, SY16 2BQ |
| 4 July | Bishop Mascall Centre, Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, SY8 1RZ |
| 11 July | Wellington Methodist Church, New Street, Wellington, Telford, TF1 1LU |
| 25 July | Bridgnorth Leisure Centre, Northgate, Bridgnorth, WV16 4ER |
| 2 August | Festival Drayton Centre, Frogmore Road, Market Drayton, TF9 3AX |
| 15 August | Cabin Lane Church, Cabin Lane, Oswestry, SY11 2LQ |
