Public to have say on NHS shake-up plan

A public consultation on plans for a radical shake-up for health services across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is set to begin at the end of January next year.

A draft plan – known as the sustainability and transformation plan (STP) – published this week outlines major changes aimed at slashing £400 million from the local NHS budget over the next five years.

It includes proposals to close St Mary’s Birthing Centre in Melton and a consolidation of maternity services at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The future of some community hospitals, such as the Hinckley and Bosworth District Hospital, is under threat and there is likely to be a reduction in acute and community hospital beds.

 Toby Sanders, managing director of West Leicestershire clinical commissioning group (CCG) and the man heading the STP process, said a bigger proportion of the plan is “new models of care” which aim to make sure patients have more access to GPs and primary care and care nearer where they live.

He said: “In the long term these will probably be more significant than changes such as the future of buildings.

“We are looking at sustained growth in GP and primary care provision of some 10 per cent over the next five years.”

Full Story on The Leicester Mercury 24 November 2016