CCGS announce more delays over health consultation

THE consultation on health care in the district has been delayed again.

In a press release the Clinical Commissioning Groups said: “The Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGS) of Stoke-on-trent and North Staffordshire have been working with patients, partners, system leaders and politicians to make sure that the right services are in the right place to meet the health needs of local people.

“Over the course of the year a great deal of work has been undertaken to develop proposals for community based services wrapped around the patient in an integrated and joined up way.

“We have undertaken a rigorous process to develop a pre-consultation business case which details options based on quality of care first but that are also are clinically sustainable, accessible and financially credible. The documents and detail within are rightly being assured by NHS England to make sure that we have met the required tests and complied with our legal duties.

“We are in the final stages of this process, however, the timescale for the launch of a public consultation will take longer than we had originally anticipated. We are continuing to provide the information and evidence required for NHS England’s assurance process and once this process is complete we will be in a position to confirm a date later in the year for public consultation.”

Marcus Warnes, accountable officer of the CCGS, said: “We have some ambitious and exciting proposals that we are keen to share with local people and gather their views about but it is right and proper that we do this lawfully, carefully and correctly rather than quickly. I would ask you to please bear with us while we go through the assurance process with NHS England. After this process, the CCGS will begin formal consultation on their proposals.”