News

01.11.16

Another STP admits to ‘serious reservations’ about process and plan

A sustainability and transformation plan (STP) footprint in the north of England has become the latest to publish its plan, which includes proposals to reconfigure acute hospital services – just as the leader of Hartlepool Borough Council wrote to NHS England about his doubts over the process.

The STP, covering Durham, Darlington, Tees, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby (DDTHWR), is the latest to be published, after South West London, North Central London and Birmingham and Solihull.

Cllr Christopher Akers-Belcher, who is also chair of the Hartlepool Health and Wellbeing Board, revealed he had written to NHS England to suggest a meeting to discuss a number of concerns, especially the board’s lack of involvement with the plan.

He said: “I recognise there is a need to change and that services could be more efficient, but I do have serious reservations about the sustainability and transformation plan process so far and the plan which has been developed.

“We see first-hand the impact of the profound health inequalities that exist in Hartlepool and we want to ensure the plan improves services for the health and wellbeing of our residents. We are also keen to continue to work with the NHS to strengthen the focus on adult social care in the draft plan as it develops.”

He argued the STP had been published to ensure “full transparency”, which he felt had not “been demonstrated so far by NHS England”.

The draft STP involves designating two specialist emergency hospitals for the region: James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, and either Darlington Memorial Hospital or University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton on Tees.

The James Cook would run 24-hour consultant A&E services, while the other hospital would run 16-hour services. The A&E is likely to close at a hospital that hasn’t yet been chosen. A&E services could also be cut at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS FT.

A survey of CCG chairs and accountable officers found that 31% said their STPs were likely to lead to the closure or downgrading of A&E departments in the next 12-18 months, prompting the Royal College of Emergency Medicine to issue a stark warning that the closures would “put lives at risk”.

The DDTHWR footprint faces a £281m funding gap by 2021, representing 12.4% of its current NHS activity. It said it estimated the reconfiguration of acute services would save £110.7m.

Their plan proposed better work on early intervention and prevention, including improving engagement with patients with alcohol problems, integrating weight management and mental health services and improving services for children and families, to save an estimated £9.6m.

It also seeks to save £42.9m by transforming neighbourhood and community care, including introducing health and social care hubs covering 30,000-50,000 people, and embedding staff such as mental health counsellors and therapists, physician associates and clinical pharmacists in GP surgeries.

(Image c. Mick Garratt)

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an NHE columnist? If so, click here.

Comments

Steven Carne   02/11/2016 at 20:03

Interesting that the article seems to imply that the STP "board" or "footprint" published its own STP - these mysterious plans that say they are all about NHS Improvement and Transformation but really are a glossy way of inflicting huge cuts in services. Like the other 3 councils Hartlepool Council published the STP not an NHS board or related organisation. Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher is to be congratulated for realising that these plans are duty bound to be published so the public can see for themselves the extent to the radical changes that are being made to the NHS without, it seems, major public or parliamentary debate. Other councils should follow suit and defy NHS England's boss Simon Stevens who has ordered CCGs NOT to publish the STPs, and they should make them available to the public with immediate effect. Well done Hartlepool, Birmingham & Solihull, North London, South West London for standing up for democratic accountability.

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at will to meet demand and pressures and we’ve... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

healthcare events

events calendar

back

September 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

featured articles

View all News