The boards of NHS Surrey Downs, Sutton and Merton Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are set to consider the next phase of a programme designed to improve healthcare in the local area.
The three CCGs, made up of local GPs, have developed the Improving Healthcare Together 2020-2030 programme which aims to:
- Deliver care closer to patients’ homes by integrating health and care services so they work together in the most effective way
- Ensure high standards of healthcare by meeting the clinical standards set for our local area
- Ensure we keep services for patients with serious or life-threatening conditions operating within our local area
On Thursday 21 June 2018 the three CCGs will meet as “Committees in Common” to consider a number of draft papers that outline the case for change, our clinical vision for healthcare, the healthcare challenges we face locally and proposals for developing potential solutions to these challenges.
Joint Director of the Improving Healthcare Together 2020-2030 programme Andrew Demetriades said:
“We are keen to hear from our patients and our local communities their views on our local health challenges and how they feel we might tackle them. We are at the beginning of a journey to improve healthcare in Surrey Downs, Sutton and Merton. No decisions have been taken and we are open to any thoughts, feelings and suggestions that patients, staff or others may have.”
The Improving Healthcare Together 2020-2030 programme builds on previous work which has sought to address local challenges. The main local challenges are:
- Meeting clinical quality standards, when there is a shortage of A&E and acute medicine consultants
- The underlying financial deficit of £37m at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
- The buildings in which healthcare is delivered, many of which were constructed before the NHS was created and which are not designed for modern healthcare.
The three CCGs are seeking to address these challenges by taking forward the findings from previous programmes of engagement. Improving Healthcare Together 2020-2030 seeks to find ways of making sure that healthcare is high quality and sustainable into the future.
Independent programme chair David Clayton-Smith said:
“Listening to and hearing from patients and the public is a key part of our work. If our Committees in Common approve this next phase of the programme, a series of public engagement events and activities will begin, and feedback will help to shape the thinking of our programme.”
Clinical chair of NHS Surrey Downs CCG Dr Russell Hills said:
“We face some important healthcare challenges which we have known about for some time, and which are now more important to solve than ever before. I’m keen to hear more from our local patients and communities on the challenges we have identified.”
Clinical chair of NHS Sutton CCG Dr Jeffrey Croucher said:
“We have developed a vision for healthcare for our local area. We now want to share this vision with our patients, communities and partners to test it and gather feedback on what people feel about our aims.”
Clinical chair of NHS Merton CCG Dr Andrew Murray said:
“Last year our local hospital trust identified a number of challenges for the future. This process, led by the three CCGs, is independent and will include a detailed analysis of the needs of the very diverse populations across Merton, Sutton and Surrey Downs. This will help us develop solutions to the healthcare challenges we are facing to improve the quality of the care we provide into the future. This is the start of the conversation and there will be many opportunities to engage.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- For interviews or further information, please contact Saffron Pineger on 07876 407209 or email saffron.pineger@swlondon.nhs.uk