The leaders of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire councils are to meet the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt later to express their concern over the “disarray” in the local NHS.
They say they will also highlight the risk posed to local communities at the meeting in London, organised by Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard.
Councillors Shaun Davies and Malcolm Pate will be stressing what they call 'serious shortcomings' in an overarching plan to transform and make financially sustainable NHS healthcare across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.
The plan, called the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), was published before Christmas and recognised by NHS England as focussing too much on emergency hospital services reconfiguration on which the county’s two Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) couldn’t agree when they met in December.
The STP was also criticised by the leaders of both councils who said it didn’t address community-based care and the issue of keeping people out of hospital.
The two council leaders will tell Jeremy Hunt that 'investment in community-based approaches could substantially reduce demand on hospital services and ultimately save the NHS money by keeping people well.'
Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council. Credit: Local Government.
They will also stress that they believe that by Shropshire CCG being under 'Directions' and needing to save just over £20 million, it could put community approaches at risk due to potential disinvestment in interventions that could lead to greater savings further down the line.
Shaun Davies, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said:
The leader also said they will be calling on the Secretary of State to draw resources from neighbouring health economies to help ensure that both hospitals and both A&E are maintained until the future of the health service in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin is assured. He added:
Malcolm Pate, Leader of Shropshire Council. Credit: Shropshire Council.
Malcolm Pate, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:
Ahead of the meeting with Jeremy Hunt, Shropshire Council will be meeting with Marcus Jones MP. Credit: Parliament picture.
Ahead of the meeting with Jeremy Hunt, Shropshire Council will be meeting with Marcus Jones MP, minister for local government, to discuss their concerns about the funding of adult social care.Councillor Pate said:
The STP outlines how the NHS plans to transform and deliver financially sustainable health services in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, including hospital and community services.
