Future Fit funding is 'biggest investment' in history of Shropshire's NHS
Former health minister Philip Dunne has welcomed the £312 million which has been pledged for Future Fit, saying it is the biggest investment in the NHS in Shropshire ever.
The Ludlow MP had previously called on his former boss, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, to ensure funding was in place to make the plan a reality.
Mr Dunne said: “This is great news for Shropshire. I am delighted the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have recognised Shropshire’s case, which I articulated ahead of the Spring Statement, that the case for improving services in Shropshire should be a top priority for NHS England.
“We have secured the commitment to back the NHS in Shropshire to build state-of-the-art acute care, and improve care in the community, fit for the future.
“The £312m funding represents the largest investment in healthcare in the UK by the NHS so far this year, and is the biggest public sector investment in healthcare in Shropshire ever.
See also:
“It will help transform the way healthcare is provided in the county, to resolve some of the previously intractable problems which held back service improvement and risked more services leaving the county.
“This investment will now allow the NHS in Shropshire to move forward with its plans with confidence, knowing that the funding will be there.”
He urged people to get involved in the public consultation when it launches, which is expected to happen in May.
People will have the chance to put forward their views on two options.
The preferred option which has been put forward by Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) includes siting the county’s emergency department at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Under that model, Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital would take on responsibility for providing planned care.
The second option would be for Princess Royal Hospital to house Shropshire’s emergency department and for Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to become the planned care site.
Both hospitals would have an urgent care centre that would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Health bosses have said that consultant-led women and children’s services would have to be on the same site as the emergency department, although a range of women and children’s services would still be available on the other site.
It is hoped that allowing specialist doctors to treat the most serious cases on the emergency care site will provide better results for patients and reduce the amount of time people have to stay in hospital.
Health chiefs say by having a separate planned care site, patients will wait less time for their appointments and beds would be protected for planned operations, meaning that it would be highly unlikely for operations to be cancelled due to emergency admissions.
David Evans, chief officer for Telford & Wrekin CCG, said: “This is a massive endorsement of the tireless work of our clinicians, staff and local people in co-designing the best model of hospital care for our region. When we proceed to consultation, we want people across all the areas served to make sure they have their say.
“This isn’t a vote. We want to hear what the impact is for people and their families.
“If there are things we haven’t considered we would like to hear about that.
“I imagine some people’s concerns will be about transport so it’s about what can we do to get good transport links between the two sites.”
He said the public consultation period was likely to last 12 weeks, although could be marginally longer due to it taking place over the summer holiday period.
Dr Julian Povey, clinical chairman of Shropshire CCG, said: “This sends an immediate signal that Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin is a place where patients will get high quality care. It future-proofs it.”
Simon Wright, chief executive for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said there was a lot more to the development plans than A&E, adding: “It will improve things like cancer outcomes. There’s going to be a cancer centre on both sites.”
No decisions will be made until after the public consultation.
Telford MP calls on May to help celebrate investment news
Telford’s MP asked Theresa May to join her in welcoming the Future Fit investment at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Lucy Allan spoke about the investment in Parliament yesterday.
During PMQs, she said: “Today is the most exciting day that I have ever got to my feet in this house. Today this Government has made an announcement which will improve the lives of every single one of my constituents in Telford.
“Today, Mr Speaker, the government has announced a £312 million pound investment in new hospital services in our area.
“Will the Prime Minister join me in welcoming this fantastic news and the benefits it will bring to Telford and will she also very kindly wish everyone in Telford a very Happy Easter.”
Responding to the announcement, Mrs May said: “I’m very pleased to welcome the considerable investment in the hospital serving her constituents which has been announced.
“What we see on the ground is more money coming in to the NHS, improving services and serving constituents.”
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson has also welcomed the investment and urged people to support the public consultation.
Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said it was a “proud day”.
He added: “It’s the bedrock for future Shropshire generations and I am very proud we have secured the £312 million needed for both Shropshire hospitals.”
