Leader in move to allay fears on GP provision in south Shropshire
Shropshire Council leader Peter Nutting has responded to fears over potential plans to co-locate health services in south Shropshire onto a single site.
She has also raised concerns that such plans could lead to cuts in beds and services.
The draft plans for 2019/20 say a list of possible projects have been identified, with one of them suggesting the co-location of Ludlow Hospital, GPs and other health services to a single site to serve the south of the county.
But Councillor Nutting, leader of the council and portfolio holder for strategy, said the reference to Ludlow health facilities within the Place Plan states that ‘the clinical commissioning group will discuss requirements in the area as part of the estates review, which is currently under development’.
He said the council would not be responsible for such decisions.
He said: “Shropshire Council is not responsible for decisions regarding health services such as those located at Ludlow Community Hospital and any discussions around such services are the responsibility of Shropshire CCG and local general practitioners.
Discuss
“The reference to Ludlow health facilities within the Place Plan states that ‘the CCG will discuss requirements in the area as part of the estates review, which is currently under development’.”
He said a meeting had been held in Ludlow earlier this month, which was specifically set up to discuss the draft Place Plan for Ludlow and the surrounding area and not to discuss health services.
Councillor Nutting added: “The meeting was a first opportunity for invited local representatives and was well attended by elected members and town and parish council members who met with Shropshire Council to discuss the draft Place Plan document.”
“Once this document has been discussed with local representatives and re-drafted incorporating their comments, it will be shared more widely, including with any interested members of the public.”
Dr Julian Povey, chairman of Shropshire CCG, said the organisation had been talking to the council about a number of projects, but there has been no discussion around Ludlow.
He said health commissioners want to see reduced hospital admissions with increased numbers of patients managed in, or close to their home, or in the community, through increased investment in community services.
