Future Fit Consultation Findings published

An independent report on the thousands of responses to the Future Fit Consultation, which ran from 30 May to Tuesday 11 September 2018 has been published on the Future Fit website here.

Independent consultation specialists, Participate Limited, have collated and analysed the responses to the Future Fit consultation and wrote up their findings in a Consultation Feedback Report. The responses included 18,742 surveys, 203 letters and emails and feedback from hundreds of meetings, events and focus groups.

The Consultation Findings report has been conscientiously considered by the boards of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin CCGs and the Future Fit Programme Board. The ouputs from these meetings will now be taken forward for consideration at further meetings over the coming weeks as part of the decision-making process.

The NHS Future Fit consultation on improving hospital services for the people of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales received more than 18,500 responses - meaning more than 3% of the population served by the county’s two hospitals had their say.

David Evans, Chief Officer of Telford & Wrekin CCG, said: “This report goes far beyond just the survey feedback, with analysis of the many public consultation events, meetings and discussions with seldom heard groups.

“We have now held two meetings where we have discussed, reflected and fully considered the key themes, detailed responses and any suggestions from individuals and organisations. This will prove invaluable in helping us to make a decision about the future of hospital services in the New Year.”

Dr Simon Freeman, Accountable Officer for Shropshire CCG, said: “It was important that a wide range of people across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales gave us their views and were able to share their concerns which are highlighted in this independent report.

“This report is just one of a number of pieces of work that we need to take our time to consider before progressing to making any decisions and shape the future of health care for local people. It is vital that we also consider the outcomes of a number of other pieces of work, which are also published today. This includes public, community and non-emergency travel and transport activity, ambulance modelling, the impact that any changes to hospital services may have on seldom heard groups and the proposed plans to improve community services for health and care closer to home.”

Just over half (51%) of the online and hard copy surveys received were from the Telford and Wrekin area. 19% of all surveys were received from residents of Shropshire, 8% from the Wales/Shropshire border and 8% from Powys. 9% chose not to state their postcodes and 5% were from out of the area.

A number of other documents have also been published here:

  • Summary of stakeholder responses
  • Summary of individual responses
  • Executive Summary Equalities Impact Assessment report
  • Travel and Transport Mitigation Plan
  • Shropshire Care Closer to Home Transformation Programme Update Report
  • Neighbourhoods Programme in Telford Update Report

Further meetings continue to take place over the coming weeks to enable all key stakeholders to reflect and comment on the feedback. This includes the Joint HOSC of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Councils, Powys Community Health Council (CHC), Powys Teaching Health Board, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) board and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust board.

These meetings all form part of the process towards the Joint Committee of the two CCGs meeting early in 2019 to make a decision on the future of local hospital services.