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Public invited to provide ideas or evidence to the NHS Path to Excellence programme
A second public hearing listening panel allowing interested parties to provide evidence or ideas on solving the challenges facing local NHS hospital services across South Tyneside and Sunderland, is to take place in June.
NHS partner organisations published an updated Draft Case for Change on Phase Two of the Path to Excellence in February 2019, which builds upon the Draft Case for Change published in July 2018.
It explains the pressures and challenges facing local hospital services in South Tyneside and Sunderland and why services must change, and describes some early thinking and 'working ideas' on how some of these issues could be solved.
The Path to Excellence Draft Case for Change is one of three main areas of work across the whole local health and care economy, which will also look at how to transform care outside of hospital and help support local communities to stay fit and well by focussing on prevention.
Following several months of work which began in December 2017 led by clinical design teams made up of local doctors, nurses and therapy staff from both hospitals, the NHS is now actively seeking feedback on different possible ways services could be organised in order to create the best possible hospital services for the future.
The 'working ideas' contained in the updated Draft Case for Change take on board over 9,000 views captured so far from staff, patients, the public and key stakeholders. It shares the early thinking so far from hospital teams on ways to potentially solve the challenges facing the NHS and futureproof services for many generations to come.
In line with the recently published NHS Long Term Plan, the local NHS has set high aspirations for the future and is focussed on delivering the highest possible standards of clinical excellence all of the time, every time, for each and every person in South Tyneside and Sunderland.
Now, as part of the on-going involvement process to develop solutions, NHS leaders are once again asking interested individuals or organisations if they have key evidence or ideas that the NHS should consider as part of finding future solutions. Interested stakeholders will once again have the opportunity to present any evidence or ideas directly to NHS leaders at a specially arranged public listening panel in June.
Dr Shaz Wahid, Medical Director for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: "The NHS belongs to all of us and through our updated Draft Case for Change document we have set out our ambitions to create first class hospital services which are fit for the future.
"There are a number of very real challenges and pressures facing the local NHS and we want to help people understand why we cannot keep going as we are and why we must think innovatively to maximise our resources and the funding we have available.
"Our staff in both South Tyneside and Sunderland hospitals have been working hard over the 18 months to think about different ways we may be able to address some of the very difficult challenges facing us and our Draft Case for Change document sets out the early thinking and 'working ideas' so far from our frontline teams.
"We want to hear from individuals or organisations who have important information or ideas to share with us about our 'working ideas' so we can make sure these are properly considered and taken into account as we work towards creating tangible and credible future solutions that we can debate through a wider public consultation which is expected later in 2019.
The listening panel will be chaired by Nicholas Duffin, director of The Consultation Institute, an independent, not-for-profit best practice Institute, promoting high-quality public and stakeholder consultation in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Key questions participants wishing to give evidence to the public listening panel should consider:
Information they think the NHS needs to consider in response to the information and 'working ideas' set out in the updated Draft Case for Change
Arguments for and against the information and 'working ideas' set out in the updated Draft Case for Change
Proposals for any other ideas, issues or additions to the Draft Case for Change
In order to ensure as many people as possible can access the event, it will also be broadcast live on the internet via social media platforms and NHS websites.
Interested parties can book a 30-minute slot at the event which takes place on Friday 7th June between 10am and 12.30pm.
Participants are asked to submit any written materials three working days in advance, 5pm Monday 3rd June, to allow members of the panel to prepare and to ensure the information is formally received.
Attendees will have the opportunity to present their evidence and there will be an opportunity for questions from panel members relating to the attendees evidence.
Dr Shaz Wahid, Medical Director for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, continued: "We are hoping to hear from elected members, MPs, community and voluntary organisations and interest groups whom we know have valuable perspectives and intelligence to share with us.
"This public hearing listening panel provides a really important way for people to contribute ideas and information at this critical formative stage of coming up with potential different solutions for the future.
"We will use the feedback from this event as we continue to work with our staff and clinical teams to test and refine the 'working ideas' so far.
Phase Two of the Path to Excellence is the final part of the clinical transformation of local hospital services covering the following areas of hospital-based care:
Emergency care and acute medicine – the care provided when patients arrive at the Emergency Department or need emergency admission to hospital
Emergency surgery – the care provided when patients are admitted to hospital as an emergency and require an immediate operation
Planned care (including surgery and outpatients) – the care provided when patients are referred to hospital by their GP for a test, scan, treatment or operation.
NHS partners are working towards a formal public consultation which is expected later in 2019 to have a wider public debate on how to create the best possible hospital services for the future.
To book a slot to give evidence at the event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/path-to-excellence-phase-public-listening-panel-tickets-62315184394
To find out more visit www.pathtoexcellence.org.uk