Future Fit consultation launch date is approved for May 30

The decision was made during an emergency meeting of Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) this afternoon.

It comes after members of the CCG's governance board called for the consultation documents to be tweaked on Tuesday.

Shropshire CCG's governing body gave its approval for the consultation to start at a meeting on Wednesday.

Health bosses say they are delighted.

David Evans, chief officer for Telford & Wrekin CCG, said: “I am delighted that we will soon be able to share our proposed plans for the future of our two hospitals and hear the views of communities across Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire and Mid Wales.

"Thank you to all our patients, doctors, nurses, other healthcare staff and partners who have worked so hard to get us to this point.”

Events

Dr Simon Freeman, accountable officer for Shropshire CCG, added: “This is fantastic news for our local communities and a major step forward in making sure we can secure two vibrant hospitals and improve the care received by people across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales now and in the future.

"When the consultation launches, we would urge everyone to come to our events, visit our website and have their say by filling out our survey.”

The public consultation, which will run for 14 weeks, will include two options.

The preferred Future Fit option, which has been signed off by both CCGs, is for the county's emergency centre to be based at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) to take on responsibility for planned care.

It would be supported by two urgent care centres, based at RSH and PRH.

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

The consultation documents will be available on a new website – nhsfuturefit.org – which will launch at the start of the consultation.

Throughout the consultation, there will be eight public exhibition events where people can drop in and meet doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff, ask questions and find out more.

In addition, representatives from the CCGs will be attending a range of meetings and events providing regular updates and answering questions.

And there will be a range of pop-up style roadshows at community and public venues across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales.

Details of plan to consult public

Further details have emerged on what people can expect during the Future Fit public consultation.

Members of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Council’s joint health overview and scrutiny committee were told about events which had been organised as part of the consultation process during a meeting yesterday.

Pam Schreier, who is the communications and engagement lead for the Future Fit programme, said there will be at least eight public exhibitions across Shropshire and Powys.

She said people will be able to watch videos, visit information stalls and talk to clinicians.

There will also be a stand for people to complete a survey.

Ms Schreier said senior executives from Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups will also be present and the public exhibitions will run from 3.30pm to 7.30pm.

She said: “The clinicians will remain constant for every public event and for the four hour period.”

She said more than 50 pop-up events will help to raise awareness of the consultation and survey, and signpost people to public events.

A ‘mid-point review’ will decide whether any further sessions are necessary.

Future Fit funding plans questioned

Concerns have been raised over potential finance arrangements for the £312 million Future Fit scheme.

The breakdown of public money and public-private partnership money – which will jointly finance the scheme – is not yet known, a meeting of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Council’s joint health overview and scrutiny committee heard yesterday.

Councillor Andy Burford, chairman of the joint committee, said it was a concern that a breakdown in finances for the scheme was not available.

He said: “When we are talking about making decisions on the clinical model any member of the public would want to know that the finances stack up.”

Dr Simon Freeman, accountable officer for Shropshire CCG, said it would be a “mixed capital solution” and NHS England found that both consultation options are “affordable”.

The preferred Future Fit option, which has been signed off by both CCGs, is for the county’s emergency centre to be based at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) to take on planned care. It would be supported by two urgent care centres, based at RSH and PRH.

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