18. Coventry & Warwickshire
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 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. 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
The Acute Stroke Unit at George Eliot Hospital will close, with a new unit built at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire.
Possible Reduction in the number of maternity and paediatric service sites as services are consolidated.
Pregnant women will be encouraged to have home births with the support of newly established and expanded community hubs.
Apart from a small number of changes, the lack of detail contained within the STP document means that its impact is very unclear.
Lack of information and collaboration
The STP has received a great deal of criticism for its lack of detail and for not involving local GPs. News stories have hinted at cuts to A&E and maternity, but not enough details have been revealed to know if this is going to happen or not. One media article noted that the man in charge of the STP can't "offer any guarantees [that services won't be closed amid fears for the future of services."
Changes in who organises our care
The STP plans on becoming an Accountable Care System (ACS) in which health and social care become more integrated.