Public consultation starts on 15 October
Board backs changes to services at Heatherwood Hospital
The Board of NHS Berkshire has approved recommendations relating to changes to four services used by patients living in east Berkshire and south Buckinghamshire which are currently provided at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot. The decisions were taken following a three-hour discussion at its meeting at the Holiday Inn, Maidenhead, on 26 March 2013.
The changes relate to maternity, minor injuries, stroke rehabilitation and general rehabilitation services. Full details here.
The Board made informed decisions after thorough debate which went on for more than an hour longer than scheduled to ensure all issues were properly explored. They also considered the contents of a Decision Making Business Case and Independent Consultation Analysis Report.
Dozens of questions were taken and responded to – both written ones submitted in advance and others asked at the meeting by members of the public and by the Board’s non-executive directors.
The proposals were measured against key criteria including the impact on patient choice, access, service quality and support from clinicians.
Sally Kemp, the Chairman of NHS Berkshire, said: “As these proposals affect healthcare provided to patients across east Berkshire it was our responsibility to make our decisions looking at the needs of the population as a whole. We have made what we believe to be the right decisions, with some important conditions, to improve healthcare for the population and represent value for money within the resources available.”
The decisions followed extensive public engagement dating back to 2011, including public consultation from October 2012-January 2013.
We have listened and taken on board all the feedback we received before, during and after the consultation. That feedback helped to shape the final recommendations. We want people to continue to work with us as we put these changes in place.
The implementation plan will be led by local Clinical Commissioning Groups which take over responsibility for commissioning local health services from 1 April 2013.
Dr Adrian Hayter, the Chairman of the Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead CCG, said: “The four new local CCGs in east Berkshire and south Buckinghamshire have been working closely together to ensure that the needs of our patients are best served. Doctors and nurses have very much been part of the process and the development of the proposals. We are clear that these changes will bring long-lasting improvements for the population.”
The Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is developing plans to secure the long-term future of Heatherwood Hospital as a centre for high quality, planned surgery.
