A consultation on sweeping changes affecting the whole of the NHS in Oxfordshire is to be partly delayed until May 2017.
The ‘Oxfordshire Transformation Programme’, part of a set of broader ‘Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP)’ being produced for NHS England, was due to go out to consultation by January 2017.
Today Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group has announced that only about half of the proposals, affecting hospital services in North Oxfordshire, will be up for discussion in January.
Chief operating officer Diane Hedges said: “Plans are being made to launch a public consultation in January 2017 on proposals for changing the way some services work including critical care, stroke services and maternity services in the north of the county.
“It has been decided that more work is necessary to develop the options and ensure we have more engagement of clinicians and other stakeholders in the proposals for the future of community hospitals, emergency care services and children’s services.
“For this reason a delay is necessary for this consultation which will mean it will start after May 2017.
“All plans need to be assured with NHS England before we can confirm further details. These plans are being discussed at the next meeting of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 17 November.”
The STP aims to reshape the way NHS services are delivered across the UK over the next five years.
In Oxfordshire about £270m in savings is likely to be made as a result of the plans.
Article originally published by Herald Series
