An Independent Review set up to ensure people across South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and Chesterfield continue to receive excellent hospital services now and into the future has made a series of recommendations in a report recently published – and patients, staff and the public are invited to share their thoughts.

The Hospital Services Review (HSR) Report strongly recommends that to continue to provide high quality services across the region, hospitals in Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Chesterfield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield must work together even more closely and in ways that connect teams across all sites.

Amongst the key recommendations, the Report states:

  • The majority of services should remain in local hospitals
  • All seven emergency departments should remain
  • Hospitals should develop, “networks of care” with each one taking responsibility for one of the reviewed services
  • There should be an expansion of services for children in the community and short stay units, meaning less need for longer stay inpatient wards and partners should consider further work to think about a small reduction in the number of inpatient paediatric units
  •  Women should have more choice over their maternity care and healthcare partners should explore further options for developing maternity care in the community and at home
  • A Health and Care Institute and an Innovation Hub should be developed, linked with universities, colleges and schools to develop and support the workforce while also researching new developments and technologies

Professor Chris Welsh, Independent Director for the review of hospital services in South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and Chesterfield, said:

“We are fortunate to have some excellent services and staff from all professional backgrounds who are dedicated and skilled, and strive to deliver good care in the face of tremendous pressure.

“But the NHS is facing enormous challenges. Within the region, demand is increasing faster than ever predicted. Part of this comes from resource shortages, but part of it is the consequence of a system designed to provide treatment in every hospital for every condition that now needs to adapt to much more specialised and advanced treatment which can deliver better outcomes for patients. The system must change to meet these new needs.

“If the hospitals in South Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and Chesterfield want to continue to provide excellent services and attract and develop the best staff to run them, then it is my strong recommendation that they work together even more closely and in ways that connect teams across all sites.”

The report is currently being considered and discussed by all committees and individual boards and governing bodies within the partnership before the next steps are agreed – and patients, staff and the public are invited to share their own thoughts on the report and help develop the future of these hospital services in our region.

You can do this by viewing the report at www.healthandcaretogethersyb.co.uk and sending your comments via email to helloworkingtogether@nhs.net by 13 July 2018. Alternatively, you can call 0114 305 4487 and request a paper copy or easy read version to be sent to you.

Professor Des Breen, Medical Director for Health and Care Working Together in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw, said:

“As a partnership, we asked for this review to be carried out to help us understand how we can make sure our services are of the safest and highest quality, now and in the future and I welcome this detailed and considered Report. The review team has spent ten months looking closely at hospital data, patient outcomes and experience, had in-depth conversations with the staff who run the services, the patients who use them and also the wider public.

“This is a very thorough piece of work and I would urge members of the public to continue to have their say as the partners in Health and Care Working Together will consider the report and all feedback in detail before making any decisions as to our next steps.”

If the partners agree that a further phase of work should take place, to scope out options and to develop business cases for change, this would take another year with continued patient, public and staff involvement and, where appropriate, the relevant Health Scrutiny Committees.

If any major service changes required consultation, this would likely take place in 2019, with another one to two years before changes took effect.

Follow this link for full information and to download the report.