NHS options rejected

Wychavon District Council has given its views on proposals to change management arrangements for community health services in Wychavon.  At a special meeting on Tuesday, Councillors discussed the proposals by NHS Worcestershire to move its directly provided services to either the Acute or Mental Health Trusts.

Councillors were concerned that alternative proposals - including creating a staff run social enterprise and splitting services to involve GP’s - had been discounted.

In its response, supported by both political parties at the meeting, the Council says that because the ethos and culture of the community hospitals is so different to that of the acute, it strongly objects to the community hospitals being transferred to the Acute Hospitals Trust - in particular the two community hospitals in Evesham and Pershore.  It urges NHS Worcestershire to consider a “mixed economy” of options for the services, where the voluntary and private sectors might be considered. If this isn’t considered viable by the PCT, then Councillors felt that the Mental Health Trust should be asked to manage the services in the short to medium term, subject to its capacity and financial standing being checked.

Cllr. Judy Pearce, board member for health said “We didn’t approve either of the options because we’re not convinced by the arguments in particular the lack of a business case and more imaginative solutions to improve patient outcomes and improve productivity’.”

NHS Worcestershire will be taking their final decision on 15 September.