25. Hertfordshire and West Essex
In October 2018, the chief executives of NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to all STP leaders instructing them to come up with new five year plans by autumn 2019. The new five-year plans will replace those which were drawn up in 2016 based on the previous five-year funding settlement to 2020-21. The new five year STP will be developed based on a new NHS England budget.
The letter notes that “It will be extremely important that you develop your plans with the proper engagement of all parts of your local systems and that they provide robust and credible solutions for the challenges you will face in caring for your local populations over the next five years.”
NOTE: The information on this page relates to the original STP drawn up in 2016, however much of the information is still relevant and could be part of the new STP.
What concerns have been raised about your STP?
Health planners are trying to reduce NHS deficits and think about ways to re-organise care. However getting the large deficit under control could prevent facilities being developed that can cope with the health and care social needs of local people.
Proposed changes
Almost 30 hospital beds will be lost when two wards of St Albans City Hospital are shut.
An £8.5 million fund to reduce bed-blocking has been cut, although this was a key component of the STP.
Local stop smoking services have been cut. Action on Smoking and Health has warned this will end up costing the NHS significantly more in the long term.
Herts Valley CCG and East and North Hertfordshire CCG have instigated a number of cost-savings measures, some very controversial, such as obese patients made to lose weight and smokers having to give up smoking in order to be referred for non-urgent treatment.
IVF treatment has been cut across the region.
Development of Hemel Hempstead hospital into a community hub; the current urgent care centre is being downgraded to an urgent treatment centre in December 2017.
Finances
This STP could have a deficit of £550 million by 2020/21, yet the STP contains few details of how savings are going to be made. This area is really struggling financially; the East and North Hertfordshire Trust reported a deficit of £28 million in early 2017 and Herts Valley CCG has reported record deficits. The Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow needs £150 million over next ten years and West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust needs £178 million for critical work.
Changes in who organises our care
There are plans to create an accountable care partnership model of care in West Essex.