NHS Consultation on healthcare services in Orpington
December 2012
Orpington NHS consultation - consultation report available here
Orpington NHS consultation - consultation report available here
19 November 2012
The consultation ended on 29 October. Its findings will be discussed and presented at 'Decision making meetings' which will be open to the public on 22 and 29 November. Full details are on the NHS South East London website here.
The consultation ended on 29 October. Its findings will be discussed and presented at 'Decision making meetings' which will be open to the public on 22 and 29 November. Full details are on the NHS South East London website here.
9 August 2012
'Improving health services in Orpington' - at this public consultation meeting, the chair, Peter Gluckman, introduced the agenda. A presentation of the proposals set out in the consultation document was given by Dr Angela Bhan (Managing Director of Bromley Clinical Commissioning & Joint Director of Public Health) and Dr Andrew Parson (a Bromley GP for nearly 19 years and Chair of the Clinical Commissioning Group in Bromley). They stressed the importance of addressing the changing ways in which services are delivered in order to meet the needs of an increasingly ageing population, with modern developments in healthcare. The NHS cannot afford to continue using inappropriate buildings and, with staff combining to form specialists teams, to deliver several services from one location, they need to be relocated accordingly.
Matthew Kershaw (The Secretary of State's newly appointed administrator of South London Healthcare Trust (SLHT)) briefly explained his role in overseeing the review of South London's services. Part of his job is to appraise the estate across the whole of the SLHT, including the viability of Orpington Hospital. He will also be looking at staffing levels and assessing the right mix of clinical and non-clinical staff in the new models of service delivery. In October he has to produce draft recommendations for the SLHT. A public consultation will follow this, lasting up to mid-December. A report will then be produced in early January and the Secretary of State will make a decision on the future of the SLHT in early February.
However, the outcome of the Orpington consultation will be taken into account in the draft recommendations.
He pointed to 3 main reasons for last year's £7 million overspend:
1. The hospitals are not as efficient nor effective as they should be
2. The cost of the PFIs have an affordability problem
3. How the hospitals work with other services is poorly organised.
He further indicated that an alternative solution to the PFI issue could be found, providing the SLHT's overall expenditure problems are resolved
A number of issues were raised by questions from members of the public, including:
· Concern that the proposals are merely part of privatisation of the NHS
· How will building a new facility be more cost effective than refurbishing Orpington Hospital?
Response: The Orpington Hospital building is bigger than is required and currently costs £2 million per year to run. Refurbishment would cost £3 million. It has been estimated
that a new facility would cost in the region of £700k per year.
· With an increasingly ageing population, how will the new set-up cope with the need for more intermediate care beds?
Response: Services are being delivered in different ways, particularly trying to offer more home care services.
· What will happen to the funds accrued from the sale of Orpington Hospital?
Response: SLHT is not a foundation trust, so any funds raised from asset sales will go into the general NHS fund and be used where needed.
· How much would the new centre cost to build?
Response: It would depend on a number of factors but probably around £3 million.
· How will the location be decided?
Response: This will depend on feedback from this consultation.
· How will the cost of the building be funded?
'Improving health services in Orpington' - at this public consultation meeting, the chair, Peter Gluckman, introduced the agenda. A presentation of the proposals set out in the consultation document was given by Dr Angela Bhan (Managing Director of Bromley Clinical Commissioning & Joint Director of Public Health) and Dr Andrew Parson (a Bromley GP for nearly 19 years and Chair of the Clinical Commissioning Group in Bromley). They stressed the importance of addressing the changing ways in which services are delivered in order to meet the needs of an increasingly ageing population, with modern developments in healthcare. The NHS cannot afford to continue using inappropriate buildings and, with staff combining to form specialists teams, to deliver several services from one location, they need to be relocated accordingly.
Matthew Kershaw (The Secretary of State's newly appointed administrator of South London Healthcare Trust (SLHT)) briefly explained his role in overseeing the review of South London's services. Part of his job is to appraise the estate across the whole of the SLHT, including the viability of Orpington Hospital. He will also be looking at staffing levels and assessing the right mix of clinical and non-clinical staff in the new models of service delivery. In October he has to produce draft recommendations for the SLHT. A public consultation will follow this, lasting up to mid-December. A report will then be produced in early January and the Secretary of State will make a decision on the future of the SLHT in early February.
However, the outcome of the Orpington consultation will be taken into account in the draft recommendations.
He pointed to 3 main reasons for last year's £7 million overspend:
1. The hospitals are not as efficient nor effective as they should be
2. The cost of the PFIs have an affordability problem
3. How the hospitals work with other services is poorly organised.
He further indicated that an alternative solution to the PFI issue could be found, providing the SLHT's overall expenditure problems are resolved
A number of issues were raised by questions from members of the public, including:
· Concern that the proposals are merely part of privatisation of the NHS
· How will building a new facility be more cost effective than refurbishing Orpington Hospital?
Response: The Orpington Hospital building is bigger than is required and currently costs £2 million per year to run. Refurbishment would cost £3 million. It has been estimated
that a new facility would cost in the region of £700k per year.
· With an increasingly ageing population, how will the new set-up cope with the need for more intermediate care beds?
Response: Services are being delivered in different ways, particularly trying to offer more home care services.
· What will happen to the funds accrued from the sale of Orpington Hospital?
Response: SLHT is not a foundation trust, so any funds raised from asset sales will go into the general NHS fund and be used where needed.
· How much would the new centre cost to build?
Response: It would depend on a number of factors but probably around £3 million.
· How will the location be decided?
Response: This will depend on feedback from this consultation.
· How will the cost of the building be funded?
16 July 2012
Consultation launched - check website for consultation questionnaire and public events. Details of the public events can also be viewed here .
See also 'The future of Orpington Hospital'.
Consultation launched - check website for consultation questionnaire and public events. Details of the public events can also be viewed here .
See also 'The future of Orpington Hospital'.