Health issues regularly make the headlines and I have no doubt you’ll be aware of the current consultation on proposals by the Trust Special Administrators (TSA) on the future of Stafford and Cannock Hospitals, and I thought it might be useful to update you on what is emerging and how we are responding.
The County Council’s ambition is to provide the best quality of life for our residents covering a wide range of areas including jobs and economic growth, education, social care, and of course, health. Indeed back in April this year, we took on responsibility for public health and established the health and wellbeing board, so it has become an increasingly important part of our work. While we do not usually get involved with the inner workings of the NHS, we feel it’s important to take a robust stance on the future of both Stafford and Cannock Hospitals and the potential wider impact on health services across the county.
We have met with the TSA and made it clear that any model for health care must be sustainable, financially robust and absolutely in the best interest of the people of Staffordshire.
Our response as a county council involves maintaining a maternity provision in Stafford and the suggestion of a new, more integrated delivery model for the local NHS, with a single acute trust for Staffordshire. This concept is an idea still being developed and shared with our partners, but the central part of it is recognising that the various reports into the NHS over recent years have raised the need for bold leadership and challenge to solve the systemic and cultural problems that those reports have raised.
Our input, I believe, is about the County Council acting as a responsible partner to develop and share a solution that will improve outcomes for local people to create a healthier, happier and more prosperous Staffordshire.
A lot of work will be put into this agenda, and this is a great opportunity to show how we can lead and contribute to wider debates beyond the usual realms of local government. It is my hope that the future of Staffordshire’s NHS and public services will become a model for health and social care services and that we’re recognised for our contribution.
I will keep you posted as developments arise.