15. Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
ICS to be developed
The NHS ten-year long-term plan published in January 2019 stated includes the development of integrated care systems (ICS) across England, in which healthcare organisations, including acute, community and primary care, and social care and public health will work closely together. These ICS are to evolve from the STP areas and be in place by April 2021.
The chief executives of NHS England and NHS Improvement had already written to all STP leaders in October 2018, instructing them to come up with new five year STP plans by autumn 2019. The new five-year plans will replace those which were previously drawn up based on the previous five year funding settlement to 2020-21.
These new STP plans will now feed into the development of the ICS.
The ICS will develop either through a number of alliance contracts or through a single provider being in charge of integration of services - an integrated service provider (ICP).
For more information on ICS see our briefing page here.
NOTE: The information on this page relates to the original STP drawn up in 2016; much of the information is still relevant, however, and is likely to be part of any ICS.
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
Closure of all acute beds at Leicester General Hospital (LGH) and reconfiguration of services within University Hospital Leicester which will lead to a net reduction of 243 acute beds.
All clinical services will be moved onto two sites: the Leicester Royal Infirmary and the Glenfield.
Closure of maternity units at St Mary's Hospital, Melton Mowbray and Leicester General Hospital. These maternity services will be consolidated onto one site at the Royal Infirmary with the possibility of a midwife led unit at the General Hospital.
Surgery for children born with heart defects could end at Glenfield Hospital.
Two community hospitals will see their inpatient beds cut. Leaving six sites with such facilities.
The closure of all in-patient facilities at Fielding Palmer Community Hospital in Lutterworth and Rutland Memorial Community Hospital in Oakham. Consultant geriatrician Dr Alex Miodrag, branded the decision as 'pure insanity' due to the rising and ageing population in the area.
50% reduction of beds as Hinckley and Bosworth Community Hospital and an overall net reduction of 38 beds across the remaining community hospitals.
The number of acute hospital beds will be cut from the current 1,940 to 1,697 by 2020. Together with the closure of community beds this will be an overall bed reduction of 12.9%.
It is estimated 1,500 local hospital jobs will be cut by 2020, although the number of full-time health workers in the community will go from 2,271 to 2,505.
Changes in who organises our care
The STP is to develop into an accountable care system, however the councils involved have expressed concerns over this move. The three local authorities involved have criticised the lack of detailed plans to tackle a £399 million financial gap in the document outlining the ACS development.