30 May 2018

The following information is from our colleagues at NHS Future Fit

The transformation of local hospital services is now in the hands of local people with the launch today (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 in Shrewsbury and the Princess Royal Hospital Telford to meet the needs of communities across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales.

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are asking for the views of people across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales on the following two options:

Option 1: 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.”

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 in public, including eight public exhibitions.

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
    o Twitter: @NHSFutureFit
    o 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 and locations:

6 June: Meeting Point House, Southwater Square, Telford TF3 4HS

7 June: Shrewsbury Football Club, Oteley Rd, Shrewsbury SY2 6ST

28 June: Elephant and Castle Hotel, Broad St, Newtown SY16 2BQ

4 July: Bishop Mascall Centre, Lower Galdeford, Ludlow SY8 1RZ

11 July: Methodist Church, New Street, Wellington, Telford TF1 1LU

25 July: Bridgnorth Leisure Centre, Northgate, Bridgnorth WV16 4ER

2 August: The Festival Drayton Centre, Frogmore Rd, Market Drayton TF9 3AX

15 August: Cabin Lane Church, Cabin Lane, Oswestry SY11 2LQ