Public urged to have say over health plans

Consultation organised to explain changes

HEALTH leaders are encouraging people to attend a public meeting on the future shape of NHS services in Hinckley.

The event is being publicised by West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and will take place on January 17 at Hinckley Golf Club, Leicester Road.

Running from 6pm to 9pm the session will offer insight into wide-ranging proposals affecting Hinckley including closing the hospital on Mount Road, expanding the Hill Street health hub and delivering more services from the Ashby acute site while stripping in-patient beds.

Informal consultation on these outlines, part of the Better Care Together five-year programme, and now a thread of the regional STP - sustainability and transformation plan - has been ongoing for more than 18 months.

Campaigners say minor operations and diagnostic services should remain in the town centre with many calling for the protection of the Victorian Hinckley and District Hospital.

However, in the face of a £300 million budget blackhole and ever increasing pressures NHS bosses say new ways of working must be found.

Hinckley and District Hospital is considered incapable of being able to accommodate flexible, modern services.

A formal public consultation will have to take place before any action takes place.

A spokesman for the CCG said: “At the event you will hear from senior NHS representatives what we believe should be different about services in the future including having more care provided in the community and in people’s homes, so that they only go to hospital when they are seriously ill or when it is a planned procedure.”

Local councillors are urging people to attend and ensure questions are asked and views made known.

David Bill, borough and county councillor, said: “It is imperative that local voices and concerns are heard.

“These changes will affect all of us in some way or another but at the moment there are so many unknowns so people really do have to get on board.”

Proposals include closing Mount Road, delivering cancer screening and day case procedures at Hinckley Community Hospital while reducing community in-patient beds, and establishing a primary care hub at Hinckley Health Centre on Mount Road/Hill Street.

The CCG says a £.7.7 million investment will fund these changes.

Cllr Bill said: “We have been in this situation before with proposals drawn up to expand Ashby Road and then funding not being available.

“What is vital is that services remain in the town centre.”