[wv-ref-group] From today's HSJ - Herefordshire and Worcestershire STP
- From: <ChiefExec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <wv-ref-group@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <Terry.Osborn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <Helen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <mkeel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2016 13:16:53 +0000
Dear Colleagues
I thought you may wish to see this article from the HSJ, if have not already.
Mark
The new health system for Hereford and Worcestershire has requested national
support to help consolidate back office services across all of its NHS
organisations and local councils.
In a progress report on the area’s sustainability and transformation plan,
obtained by HSJ, local leaders said there were “differing organisational views”
as to which back office services should be protected.
[Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust]
There has long been speculation about the future of Alexandra Hospital
The update submitted to NHS Improvement also sets out plans for consolidating
pathology and pharmacy services, as well as highlighting clinical services that
are financially unsustainable.
Each of the 44 STP areas in England was asked to submit a list of potential
consolidation opportunities for back office, pathology and clinical services by
the end of
July<https://www.hsj.co.uk/exclusive-paybills-and-planned-care-targeted-in-huge-savings-drive/7005999.article>.
This was aimed at finding opportunities to reduce the overall provider deficit
by more than £300m this year.
The Hereford and Worcestershire STP area is one of the most financially
troubled<https://www.hsj.co.uk/topics/finance-and-efficiency/mapped-the-financial-health-of-every-stp-area/7004214.article>
in England. A spokesman said its plans were aimed at delivering significant
savings, but these are not anticipated to be realised in 2016-17.
The STP area includes two acute trusts – Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust
and Wye Valley Trust – while Worcestershire Health and Care Trust provides
mental health and community services.
There are four clinical commissioning groups and two county councils in the
patch.
The submission, written by Robert Mackie, deputy chief executive of WHCT, said
current outsourcing contracts for back office services present are a barrier to
consolidation in some areas.
But he said common areas for in-house staff include human resources,
procurement, payroll, supplies, financial services, financial management,
business intelligence, programme management and parts of IT.
The STP partners are also investigating the potential of organisations “buying
into existing outsourcing contracts at a marginal rate”, he said.
But the submission added: “Given the varied view from organisations it would be
welcome to have support from NHS Improvement in participating in workshops the
STP has planned to develop a detailed project plan to deliver consolidation of
back office functions involving all NHS and local authority organisations.”
In a section about financially unsustainable clinical services that could
potentially be consolidated, Mr Mackie highlighted dermatology services in
Worcestershire.
He also flagged concerns over “workforce availability” across the area for
clinical haematology; colorectal surgery; and ear, nose and throat services.
While the services are not unsustainable they may require a “different medium
to long term solution”, he said.
But the submission added that the area’s “greatest challenge” is around high
levels of agency spending within emergency services, which is being mitigated
“as far as possible”.
The proposals did not include plans to reduce the number of accident and
emergency departments, however this was not ruled out when HSJ asked if it was
being considered.
A spokesman for the STP said: “Given the size and scale of the challenges we
have we need to consider a range of possible options… Any substantial or
significant change to the way we provide services will be subject to full, open
and transparent engagement and consultation before any decisions are made.”
Wye Valley runs one emergency department and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals
runs two.
There has long been speculation about the downgrade of services at the
Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, but earlier this year the trust said there
would be two emergency departments in Worcestershire “for many years to come”.
The trust has also sought to retain the hospital despite attempts to have it
transferred to University Birmingham Hospitals Foundation
Trust<https://www.hsj.co.uk/hsj-local/providers/worcestershire-acute-hospitals-nhs-trust/julie-moore-intervenes-over-future-of-inadequate-hospital/7010872.article>.
The submission also said Worcestershire Acute Hospitals has “developed a
specification for pathology services and is currently discussing this with Wye
Valley to understand whether a joint business case for blood science
integration is a viable option in the short to medium term”.
Integration and a joint procurement for pharmacy services is also being
explored. These were areas highlighted by Lord Carter’s review of NHS
efficiency earlier this year.
Hereford and Worcestershire is the only STP to so far provide its submission in
response to a freedom of information request from HSJ.
Most others have refused to provide their submission on the basis that the
final STP plans will be published in future. HSJ has appealed this, because the
request specifically related to the July submissions, rather than the final STP
plans.
Source:
Submission to NHS Improvement obtained under FOI
[cid:image001.jpg@01D220A5.73E29ED0]Mark Jackson OBE FCMI MA
Chief Executive
St Richard's Hospice, Wildwood Drive, Worcester, WR5 2QT
Email: Chiefexec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Chiefexec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
T: Tel: 01905 763963 Fax: 01905 351911
M: 0789 603 1767
DD: 01905 760901
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