REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley has urged residents to have their say on the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) for Hereford and Worcestershire NHS.
The plan, includes aims for financially sustainable services and for an increased focussed on community care, however they also entail a radical culture change in how NHS services are accessed by patients.
The formal consultation on Worcestershire Acute Services is a chance for Redditch residents to make their voices heard on the far reaching, five year plan. The plan has a number of impacts on Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital including:
– Solving the funding gap across Hereford and Worcestershire by 2021
– 145 less hospital beds across Worcestershire by 2021
– Retention of Accident and Emergency services at the Alexandra Hospital
– The reduction of physical access points to urgent care services across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
– The possibility of ‘joined up transport planning’ to overcome difficulties patients have accessing services.
– More care within homes and the community rather than in hospitals.
Additionally, the Future of Acute Services at Hospitals in Worcestershire (FOASHW) is about to commence consultation on a clinical plan for future services, including the permanent centralisation of maternity services to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
“It is absolutely vital the people of Redditch have their voice heard,” said Mrs Lumley.
“We should be clear that planned transformations will deliver better and accessible services and that the STP has to mean the best deal for Redditch. This is why I urge as many residents as possible to spend time looking at these plans and providing detailed feedback.”
Health chiefs have made plain that services cannot continue at their present level – and if they do so there will be a £229 million gap in their budget.
Even after economies, it is likely that after five years there will still be a £61 million hole in their finances.
Sarah Dugan, who is leading our local Sustainability and Transformation Plan, said: “Overall the services we provide for people in Worcestershire are good, but we do face some significant local challenges now and into the future and it is important that we address these together, as a health and care system with the support of local people.
“We are clear we will have to make some difficult decisions about how we provide and access care, treatment and support, but with the help of our patients and communities we also think we can do lots of things better and increase efficiency as a consequence.
“In Worcestershire we have based our plans around the feedback from local people over recent years and we want to continue these conversations to help shape our thinking and develop them into more detailed proposals.”
To access the plans visit http://www.hacw.nhs.uk/yourconversation/
