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Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document

Meeting of the Executive held on 16/05/2006
CHANGES TO THE LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEM


Summary & Purpose
The Committee has received a number of reports on changes proposed to the health system in Waverley at an operational level; for the Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust (PCT); for the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority and for the Surrey Ambulance Service. This report updates the Committee on the decisions that have been made following the consultation processes on these matters.
APPENDIX D
Waverley Borough Council

Community overview and scrutiny Committee –
22nd may 2006
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Title:
CHANGES TO THE LOCAL HEALTH SYSTEM
[Wards Affected : All]
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Summary and purpose:

The Committee has received a number of reports on changes proposed to the health system in Waverley at an operational level; for the Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust (PCT); for the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority and for the Surrey Ambulance Service. This report updates the Committee on the decisions that have been made following the consultation processes on these matters.
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Environmental implications:

There are none arising from the recommendations in this report.

Social / community implications:

The changes being proposed to local health services by the Primary Care Trust have significant social and community implications.

E-Government implications:

There are none arising from this report.

Resource and legal implications:

There are no resource and legal implications arising for Waverley directly from this report.
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Introduction

1. During the latter part of 2005 and the early part of 2006 a number of consultation documents were issued by different parts of the health service on changes to the way in which health services were delivered and managed. These included:

Modernising Your Local Healthcare

2. The Guildford and Waverley PCT has now concluded its consultation exercise, which comprised a range of potential options that would lead to a reduction in the number of beds in community hospitals. Towards the end of April 2006, the PCT issued a further document summarising the responses to the public consultation exercise entitled “Modernising Your Local Healthcare – Public Consultation Outcome”.

3. The document concluded that after reviewing all of the consultation feedback in detail and using this as a basis to appraise each option against the set criteria, the PCT Board is being asked to consider moving forward with Option 1, of the five options offered in the consultation paper.

4. In summary, Option 1 keeps beds open at Haslemere Hospital and removes beds from Cranleigh Hospital. Milford Rehabilitation Hospital would be closed and the specialist rehabilitation services moved to Farnham. Beds for older people with mental health issues would also be moved to Farnham. Service changes would be fully implemented by March 2008.

5. The Guildford and Waverley PCT resolved to pursue Option 1 at its Board meeting on 27th April.

Ensuring a Patient-Led NHS

6. On the 4th April 2006, the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority considered responses to its consultation exercise which focussed on proposals to reduce the number of Strategic Health Authorities and the number of Primary Care Trusts in order to effect reductions in the costs of management and administration. The aim of these proposals was to effect £13million of savings.

7. The Board of the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) resolved that its preferred option for SHA configuration was for two SHAs in the South East, including a Kent, Surrey and Sussex SHA. A location plan showing the boundaries of the new Strategic Health Authorities is attached as Annexe 1.

8. Through this process, the SHA also recommended the establishment of four PCTs, one each for Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove City. Surrey is currently covered by five PCTs, which will be amalgamated into one organisation.

9. The conclusions and recommendations made by the SHA Board have been forwarded to the Secretary of State for Health to consider. Final decisions on the future arrangements are expected during May, though planning is already in hand in anticipation of these recommendations being approved by Ministers.

Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England

10. The Department of Health consulted on the reconfiguration of NHS Ambulance Trusts. It was being proposed that there should be two NHS Ambulance Trusts to cover the area equivalent to the Government Office of the South-East viz:

11. Members will recall that Mr Paul Grant, Chief Executive of the Surrey NHS Ambulance Trust, made a presentation and considered that from his perspective and for operational purposes, the proposals were generally agreeable to the Surrey Ambulance Authority.

12. At the time of writing this report there has not been a formal announcement made about these proposals.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the report be noted.

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Background Papers (DoH)

· “Modernising Your Local Healthcare – Public Consultation Outcome” Issued by the Guildford and Waverley PCT April 2006.

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CONTACT OFFICER:

Name: John Swanton Telephone: 01483 - 523375

E-mail: jswanton@waverley.gov.uk
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Comms/o&s2/2005-06/007