Future Fit public consultation set to launch on May 30

Health commissioners will need to give the nod to the recommendation from the Future Fit programme board next week.

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning groups will also be asked to approve minor amendments to the consultation documents during meetings of their governance boards.

A letter will also be put before the CCGs from NHS England confirming the proposals have passed its assurance process.

In the letter, Dr Paul Watson, NHS England's regional director, says: "I can now confirm on behalf of NHS England that we are assured that the proposals meet the five tests for service change as well as other good practice tests and as such, I am content you proceed to consultation.

"You should take the final approved pre-consultation business case, consultation plan and consultation documents to the CCGs’ governing bodies meeting in public in order to formally agree to launch consultation."

A report to Telford & Wrekin CCG's governing body, which meets on Tuesday, says: "The purpose of this report is to receive the final versions of the public facing consultation documents, survey, pre-consultation business case and draft consultation plan, to receive the draft consultation plan, and to agree the recommendation from the Future Fit Programme Board to commence a formal 14 week formal public consultation on May 30.

"These documents were previously received by the board in November 2017 and under delegated authority given to the CCG chief officer approved with minor changes as agreed at board.

"These documents are now presented to the governing body for final approval."

Initially it was thought the public consultation would run for 12 weeks, but it has been extended to 14 weeks.

It will feature two options.

The preferred Future Fit option which has been put forward by both clinical commissioning groups includes siting the county’s emergency department at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).

Under that model, Telford's Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) would take on responsibility for providing planned care.

The second option would be for PRH to house Shropshire’s emergency department and for RSH to become the planned care site.

Both hospitals would have an urgent care centre.

Health bosses have said that consultant-led women and children's services would have to be on the same site as the emergency department.

However, a range of women and children's services would still be available on the other site, including a midwife-led unit.

Health bosses hope a shake-up of hospital services in the county will make them sustainable for the future.