NHS Future Fit Programme Board approves shortlist scenarios

he Programme Board of NHS Future Fit met today to consider the latest developments in the programme and to discuss the future of NHS services across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

Programme Board considered a recommended shortlist of scenarios for transforming emergency, planned and urgent care that will also serve patients from mid Wales.

They were considering recommendations made by an expert Evaluation Panel which met last month.

The following proposals were agreed:

The recommended shortlist is:

 

Shortlist Diagram

The Board also agreed that there should be further debate on the best and safest configuration of obstetric services within these scenarios. This should include reviewing the clinical evidence and workforce models to understand whether obstetrics could operate on a site alongside a DTC, alongside an Emergency Centre or alongside either.

On Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) Programme Board agreed to proceed to work on:

  • To prototype two urban Urgent Care Centres, one in Shrewsbury and the other in Telford
  • To explore the most appropriate rural urgent care solutions in partnership with local communities and considering current facilities/services. All existing Minor Injuries Units will be considered as potential sites for Urgent Care Centres

David Evans, Chief Officer of Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group and Dr Caron Morton, Chief Accountable Officer for Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: "This is a major milestone in the NHS Future Fit programme. We will now embark on a programme of public engagement while a large amount of technical work takes place on the shortlisted scenarios to develop them further into the options we will take to consultation.

"We would like to thank everyone who has helped us get to this stage including patients, clinicians and the Evaluation Panel."

It is expected NHS Future Fit Programme Board is able to recommend a preferred option with which we can go out to a full public consultation later in 2015.

The next round of engagement kicks off with two 'pop-up shops', one in Telford Shopping Centre on 20/21 Feb and Shrewsbury Darwin Shopping Centre 27/28 Feb. Many more will follow and will be publicised via the NHS Future Fit website at www.nhsfuturefit.org and through local media.