28.02.14
Staffordshire residents ‘deserve the best after what they’ve been through’
Healthwatch Staffordshire has promised to “pull out all the stops” to make sure people in the county get better health services, following confirmation this week that Mid Staffordshire NHS FT is to be dissolved.
Jan Sensier, chief executive of Engaging Communities Staffordshire, which delivers Healthwatch, said: “Mr Hunt’s decision will lead to a major change in the way services are run at both Stafford and Cannock and we want to make sure that, at the heart of everything, is safe and quality care for patients.
“It will now be more important than ever for us to engage with both public and staff to ensure the plans are implemented successfully and that things run smoothly.
“This announcement should be the start, rather than the end, for both commissioners and health care leaders.
“It’s a chance for all key stakeholders to engage with the public and ensure we get the best possible outcome for the people of Stafford, who certainly deserve that after all they have been through.”
Hunt said the Trust, which has been in administration since April, would be dissolved “as soon as possible” with some services moving to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and others to Wolverhampton.
The decision on consultant-led maternity services at Stafford is being reviewed.
Sensier added: “I understand the announcement will be disappointing to some people, but it was clear that the situation was unsustainable in the long term.
“We’ll make sure the plans take on board the recommendations of the Health and Equality Impact Assessment Steering Group, which examined how the draft recommendations would impact on the community, particularly around patient and visitor transport.
“We would also like further clarity from the Secretary of State about his plan for consultant-led obstetrics– this was a key issue for the public and for the Impact Group and we would urge that a speedy resolution is found to avoid further uncertainty.”
Administrator Alan Bloom said: “We note that the Secretary of State has requested further work from NHS England to identify if consultant-led obstetrics could be sustained in a safe way at Stafford in the future as part of a wider review of the local health economy.
“In developing our recommendations the NHS commissioning body and the local commissioners were fully consulted along with local people and we received input from the National Clinical Advisory Group and other local providers in the local heath economy.
“In respect of maternity this was predicated on the commissioners’ stated intention that they did not wish to commission births at Stafford and concerns from the National Clinical Advisory Group as to clinical sustainability and safety.”
Andrew Donald, chief officer for Stafford and Surrounds and Cannock Chase CCGs, said: “We’ve read the Secretary of State’s announcement and we know that he is asking NHS England and commissioners to look at whether consultant led obstetrics could be sustained at Mid Staffs. We will of course look into this with NHS England as quickly as is possible.”
The Trust Special Administrators originally recommended dissolution of the trust in December.
Mid Staffs is the second trust to be dissolved, after South London Healthcare Trust last year. It was dissolved effective 1 October, 2013, and all its services are now run by other trusts.
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