Christopher Pincher Welcomes Local NHS Report
Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, has welcomed proposed improvements to Staffordshire’s local health services which have been promised in a recent report by the National Health Service.
And he has called on the healthcare providers across the county to make sure their commitment to working together for the good of patient care becomes a reality.
NHS England published the Staffordshire Local Health Economy final report on 30th March 2016. The report was commissioned by tri-partite organisations, NHS England, NHS Trust Development Authority, and Monitor, to help the local health system develop its five year strategy plan. The news was circulated by the South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsular Clinical Commissioning Group last week.
The report’s analysis of the health economy has been informed by a locally-led Staffordshire transformation programme, “Together We’re Better” Case for Change. The Report highlights the changes in longevity (there are now 25% more people in Staffordshire over 75 than there were in 2001 and the number is rising) and the challenges of new health problems such as the increase diabetes which is attributed in part to poor eating habits.
It says healthcare must adapt to respond to changes like these. This Report will be subject to public engagement over the next few months, and Mr Pincher has encouraged local people to have their say on public health services during the public engagement process.
Improvements that have already been introduced since the Report include: a new tele-health system in primary care for monitoring conditions such as asthma, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; a primary care atrial fibrillation project aimed at significantly improving detection and incidence of AF-related strokes; and an acute visiting service to provide rapid response for patients requiring a home visit.
Mr Pincher said, “I am delighted to see that the National Health Service in Staffordshire is improving its level of provision, and its accountability to people through the upcoming public engagement process in which I would absolutely encourage local residents to have their say.
VTamworth is a growing town and it is important that its health care needs, and the wishes of local people, are fully understood. Those needs must have the right level of care provided for them, especially as healthcare needs change and treatments change too.
VThat is one of the reasons why I was in Burton at the end of March to talk to the new clinical leadership at the Burton NHS Hospitals Trust. I am pleased that the report suggests the NHS must be highly responsive to local needs and I encourage all local providers including Burton Trust, HEFT, the CCG and local pharmacies to work together to ensure that it is so.”
