Future Fit: No progress made on independent review

The independent review into the Future Fit process has still not made any progress, three months after it was announced that it would take place.

But those behind the review said it is on track to begin next month and that an independent chair will be appointed in the coming weeks.

It is despite health bosses saying they hoped that public consultation on the process should begin in June.

Today, Pam Schrier, a spokeswoman for the Clinical Commissioning Groups which are running Future Fit, said: “The Future Fit independent review is due to commence in June and dates will be confirmed following completion of the procurement process.

“We are in discussion with potential candidates for the independent chair of the CCGs’ Joint Committee and hope to confirm details in the next few weeks.”

Following the news, NHS Campaigners in Shropshire reiterated their calls for the entire Future Fit process to be scrapped, calling it “fundamentally flawed”.

​The Future Fit process – which could see one A&E unit set up at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital Telford’s department downgraded – is currently on hold after members of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin clinical commissioning groups failed to reach a decision on whether to back a recommendation to base a single A&E at RSH, as well as transferring women and children’s services from Telford to the Shrewsbury site.

As a result it is currently being independently reviewed.

Full story in Shropshire Star, 8 May 2017