Senate report calls for end to delays on hospital improvements in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin

08 December 2016
 
A report by leading medical experts into the progress of the NHS Future Fit programme to transform hospital services has now been published.
 
It concludes that there is a “clear and compelling case for change” and urges that there are no more delays.
 
The 50-page report by the West Midlands Clinical Senate has considered evidence, including evidence gathered on visits to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in October.
The senate team comprised 18 of the region’s leading professionals in health and care and was chaired by Professor Adrian Williams, Professor of Neurology & National Neurosciences Lead from the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
 
The senate was asked to assess and confirm the clinical quality, safety and sustainability of the NHS Future Fit Programme preferred models (known as options B, C1 and C2) for reconfiguring acute hospital services which serve patients in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales. They were asked to pay particular attention to clinical effectiveness, patient safety and management of risks, patient experience including access to services and patient reported outcomes.
 
The report concluded: “A clear and compelling case for change was made, based on sound evidence presented to it on current performance, improvements seen in other regions by reconfiguration of services with multi-site Trusts, the potential long-term benefits, and alignment with national NHS strategy.”
Professor Williams also stated in his forward to the report that, “we were impressed that something needs to be done and fast with no further delay for patients and staff,” and that “the status quo is unsustainable”.
The report also made a series of 18 recommendations about further work that should be done as the programme moves forward.
 
David Evans, NHS Future Fit Senior Responsible Officer said: “I would like to thank the Senate team for the diligent way they have conducted their work, their expert opinion, and the recommendations they have made allowing us to further refine our decision making. I would urge people to read it and to consider its findings.”
 
Read the full report
 
Ends
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