Members of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Overview and
Scrutiny Panel, which considers health issues, decided at a meeting
on 17 December that more consultation is needed on proposals from
NHS B&NES to change the way in which some women with
gynaecological cancers receive treatment.
There was a unanimous decision that the proposals, which would
mean that surgery for some women would take place at St Michael’s
hospital in Bristol, instead of at the RUH in Bath, are a
substantial variation in service. This means that the panel
feel that there would be a significant change or development for
current and future patients.
The panel heard from NHS B&NES, representatives from the
RUH, United University Hospitals Healthcare, Bristol NHS Foundation
Trust, who run St Michael’s Hospital, representatives from
B&NES LINKs, and from other voluntary groups, as well as
members of the public.
After considering the evidence put before them the Panel
concluded that they did “not feel that we have seen sufficient
evidence that a move to St Michael's would lead to improved
clinical outcomes for our residents.” The panel also stated that
they still felt, as they urged in 2007 when they first heard about
the proposals, that the NHS should have considered a split-site
option with operations allowed to continue both at the RUH and St
Michael’s.
Cllr Adrian Inker, Chair of the Panel said “We will now await
the outcome of the remaining four Overview and Scrutiny Committees'
deliberations on behalf of their populations, to determine if we
will be moving into a joint health scrutiny process, or if there
will be a single committee process for our residents. We
would like to thank all those who attended the meeting, and those
who gave evidence to us. We acknowledge the work done both by
NHS B&NES in conducting the review, and of patient and public
representatives for their involvement throughout the process and
their contribution to the debate.”
The proposals also affect Wiltshire, Bristol, North Somerset,
South Gloucestershire and Somerset County Council, whose Overview
and Scrutiny Committees will have the opportunity to look at the
proposals for their residents. Wiltshire has already decided that
the proposals are not a substantial variation for their
residents.
If any of the remaining four Overview and Scrutiny Committees
now feels that the proposal represents a significant change in
services for their local population, it is legally required that a
joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee is formed to work with the
NHS to agree further actions or consultation. If the other panels
agree there is no substantial variation, then we would have to
agree consultation for Bath and North East Somerset only.
Ends
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