News from our partners: Local health leaders publish key decision-making document on future of local hospital services

News from our partners Future Fit

Local health leaders have today published a key document ahead of the decision-making meeting on the future of hospital services for people in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales.

NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Telford & Wrekin CCG have published their Decision-Making Business Case (DMBC) at www.nhsfuturefit.org/DMBC and circulated it to members of the Joint Committee of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin CCGs.

This document will support the Committee in making a decision on the future of hospital services provided at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital when they meet on 29 January 2019.

The DMBC provides an update to the Pre-Consultation Business Case, bringing together all the work that has been carried out by the Future Fit programme over the last six years. It incorporates the options development phase and the impact assessments that have been undertaken, the findings of the independent reviews and the robust assurance process that has been followed. It also includes the feedback from the public consultation, details of the conscientious consideration phase and the plans that have been developed to help lessen the impact the proposals may have on travel and transport and on seldom heard groups.

Dr Simon Freeman, Accountable Officer for NHS Shropshire CCG said:

“We are pleased to be able to publish the CCGs’ Decision-Making Business Case. This is an important document that details the stages of the Future Fit journey over the last six years. We share people’s frustration as to how long this process has taken, however, we are confident that we have undertaken a thorough process and it is now time to proceed to the final decision-making process.”

David Evans, Chief Officer at NHS Telford & Wrekin CCG commented:

“The publishing of the Decision-Making Business Case follows successful meetings with NHS England and the Future Fit Programme Board and marks the final stage before the decision making meeting on 29 January. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved to help get us to this point – our doctors, nurses and other health care professionals, local people, patients and partners.”

The DMBC includes the following seven recommendations for members of the Joint
Committee to receive and approve:
1. Consultation Process
To confirm that the Committee and its constituent CCGs have met their statutory duties and ensured that an effective and robust public consultation process has been undertaken and will be used to inform the decisions made.
2. Ongoing Engagement
To support the need for the CCGs to continue to engage with and feedback to stakeholders
the outcome of the consultation and the decision-making process, including those from
seldom heard groups.
3. Principles of Consultation
To reaffirm the model underpinning the future provision of hospital services for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and mid Wales upon which the consultation process was based.
4. Consultation Findings
To note that the Programme Board has confirmed by consensus that the consultation
findings have presented no new viable alternative models or no new themes or key issues
that might influence the preferred option.
5. Preferred Option
To confirm the CCGs’ previous unanimous decision on the preferred option (Option 1) of The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital becoming an Emergency Care site and The Princess Royal
Hospital becoming a Planned Care site, with a 24-hour Urgent Care Centre at both hospitals.
6. DMBC
To receive and approve the contents of the DMBC, including its key appendices.
7: Implementation Oversight
To note and approve the proposal for an Implementation Oversight Group to be established under the STP governance structure to take forward oversight of the development of the Outline Business Case and Full Business Case.

The Joint Committee of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin CCGs will be held in public at 6.30pm on Tuesday 29 January 2019 at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Newport TF10 8NB. The meeting will be live streamed via a webcast that can be accessed at www.nhsfuturefit.org and members of the public are invited to attend. Free parking is available on site.

More information can be found at www.nhsfuturefit.org