Shropshire health bosses set out new timeline for decision on future of A&E services
The leaders of the Future Fit health shake-up in Shropshire have met for the first time since they controversially delayed their decision on the preferred site for a single A&E in the county.
NHS Future Fit's Programme Board met in Shrewsbury to set out a timeline with a decision set to be made around mid-2016.
A preferred option for the location of a new single A&E unit for Shropshire – either at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital or the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital – was due to be announced by health bosses in October.
But the board said neither option properly addressed a £20 million-plus deficit and the decision was deferred.
Now, it has been decided
David Evans, senior responsible officer for Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group, said he was frustrated by delays to the Future Fit process and admitted that the bill was set to rise to £3 million.
The latest meeting brought NHS leaders together with social care providers, patient representatives and other partners.
Brigid Stacey, acting accountable officer for Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "These decisions will define the shape of healthcare for generations to come and they are not easy ones to make.
"This is why we firmly believe that patients, communities, partners and health services need enough time to consider them carefully so that the best decisions are made. We will ensure widespread engagement and consultation with our communities, listening to people about their hopes and anxieties and using your feedback to shape the future of the county's health services."
There will be widespread engagement on the preferred model of services from June 2016.
This will be followed by detailed consultation from December 2016, which will lead to a decision on the preferred location of services by Spring 2017.
