Shaping the Future of Healthcare in East Berkshire
CCGs making changes to services at Heatherwood Hospital
Changes have now started to be made to four services used by patients living in east Berkshire and south Buckinghamshire which are currently provided at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot. The changes relate to maternity, minor injuries, stroke rehabilitation and general rehabilitation services. Full details here.
The implementation plan is led by local Clinical Commissioning Groups which took over responsibility for commissioning local health services from 1 April 2013. The changes are part of a wider healthcare plan for local people and include a planned new state of the art surgical care centre on the Heatherwood site.
Dr Adrian Hayter, Chairman of the Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead CCG, says: “We have listened to concerns of local patients and understand how highly Heatherwood Hospital and its caring and compassionate staff are valued by the local population. We are absolutely behind its key role in local health provision for the future but that does not mean that it cannot change. The new surgical facilities will mean NHS hospital services continue to be provided in Ascot for years to come.
“We recognise that the major strength of Heatherwood Hospital is the dedicated doctors, nurses and staff who deliver planned surgery and we warmly welcome the current plans to capitalise on that strength.
“The proposed new surgical centre at Heatherwood will handle, not only planned orthopaedic surgery, but many other general and specialised operations. It will have theatres, wards, treatment areas, outpatient clinics and state of the art X-ray and scanning equipment. These enhanced facilities will lead to fewer cancelled operations, better patient outcomes and fewer hospital acquired infections.
“It will be an excellent facility for local people. We also want to provide the best possible urgent care and we strongly believe that this would be best done by basing the minor injuries unit in an urgent care centre in Bracknell, which is where the majority of the people who use it live.
“We are very clear that we want to work with the people who use our services in their development, which is why we are setting up a Community Partnership Forum to ensure that local people have their say about how we develop our plans for their health needs. We are determined to address, inform and listen to their views as the service changes are implemented. "
Dr William Tong, Chairman of Bracknell and Ascot CCG, adds: “The new state of the art surgical centre planned for Heatherwood will bring financial stability to the Trust and excellent care at Heatherwood fit for 21st century needs.
“We will improve our engagement with our patients and local people. We are fully committed to this engagement and we will discuss public transport arrangements between Heatherwood and Brants Bridge and other issues with the our patients and with stakeholders. We believe we will deliver a strong and lasting future for Heatherwood Hospital and for Brants Bridge, meeting the needs of all the people in Berkshire East”.