Future Fit Feedback published

Feedback from the midpoint of the Future Fit public consultation has now been published. This follows the meeting of the Future Fit Programme Board on 24 July 2018 and additional discussions with the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Councils and Powys Community Health Council, both of which took place on 30 July 2018.

The information, summarised in a PowerPoint presentation, looks at the equalities data from the online and freepost surveys received as at week six of the consultation. The information has also been used to update the ‘live’ activity plan for reaching seldom heard groups for the remainder of the consultation which has also been published.

As at midpoint, more than 1600 surveys had been received; by 31 July 2018 this had risen to more than 2850. These figures, which do not include additional feedback received, represent more than 0.5% of the population served by the two hospitals and is considered by industry experts to be a good response rate for this stage of the consultation.

Dr Simon Freeman, Accountable Officer of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said:

“We know from local council and other NHS consultations across the country that we are on track to achieving a good response rate to the consultation. While some people might think that it doesn’t sound like a lot of responses, feedback for completed consultations often do not exceed the 1% figure, but naturally we’d like to see as many people as possible respond to the consultation.”

David Evans, Chief Officer of Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said:

“We know from experience that we always receive more responses in the second half of a consultation. This is entirely understandable. People want to come along to meetings, get answers to their questions and take their time to consider what their formal response should be. By adding further meetings and extending the consultation by one week, we are giving everyone an even greater opportunity to have their say.”

The Future Fit Programme Board decided to extend the consultation at its meeting last week. The consultation will now close at midnight on Tuesday 11 September 2018.

The recommendation to extend the consultation was made for three reasons:

• the availability of new information in a Northumbria Comparator report
• the availability of the Pre-Consultation Engagement Report, which consolidates previously available information, and
• to allow sufficient time for visitors to the additional public events, scheduled following discussion with members of the public during the first half of the consultation, to respond to the consultation.

The additional meetings that are now scheduled are:

Two public exhibition events, where people are welcome to drop in any time from 3.30pm to 7.30pm:

9 August          Cosy Hall, Water Lane, Newport TF10 7LD

21 August        Whitchurch Civic Centre, High Street, Whitchurch SY13 1AX

Pop in Q&A sessions, where people can pop in anytime from 4pm – 7pm:

8 August          The Church Barn, Church Lane, Bishops Castle SY9 5AF

29 August        Park Lane Centre, Park Lane, Woodside, Telford TF8 5QZ

30 August        The Royal Oak Hotel, The Cross, Welshpool, Powys SY21 7DG