Residents will now be able to have their say on controversial plans to shake up health services across Portsmouth and other parts of the local area. Proposals include slashing health budgets by over £500m.
Health partners have agreed to consult the public over a ‘Sustainability and Transformation Plan’ or STP.
Reasons put forward by health decision makers for the plan are:
- demand for health and care is growing at an unsustainable rate; people are living longer and increasing numbers are living with multiple chronic physical and mental health conditions.
- too many people are admitted to hospital and stay longer than they need to; the longer people stay in hospital, the more likely they are to develop complications and reduced independence.
- hospital beds are expensive and, without action, significantly more beds will be needed in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by 2020/21.
- too many patients with mental health problems are being cared for outside this area and people in mental health crisis often don’t get the high-quality co-ordinated care they need.
Now thanks to local pressure the plan -which includes services for Portsmouth and was discussed at the city’s Health and Wellbeing Board earlier this week – will go out for public consultation.
Cllr Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth Labour Leader said:
“It is jaw dropping that when our national health service is facing the biggest financial squeeze in its history, waiting lists are at four million and A&Es services are at breaking point, the Autumn Statement contained not a single penny piece of extra investment for social care and the NHS.
I welcome news that health decision makers have listened to our pleas and are giving the people of Portsmouth the chance to have their say on the controversial STP.
This is a hugely important plan for the future of health services we all depend on and I urge everyone to have their say when consultation opens.”
