NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG- CCG listens to Healthy Weston feedback from more than 3000 people
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will review feedback received during the Healthy Weston public consultation at its Governing Body meeting next week.
Between February and June 2019, over 2,300 responses were made to the public consultation, representing more than 3,000 people. The responses express a range of views on proposals for changing the way health and care services are delivered in Weston, including some services at Weston General Hospital. The CCG has now received a report from the independent group that compiled all of the feedback.
During the consultation, people took part in public meetings, completed feedback forms and sent emails. A representative group of more than 1,000 people were interviewed through door-to-door surveys. Groups such as older people, people with young families and those with long-term health conditions took part in interviews and focus groups to make sure that a wide variety of people across the area were able to have their say.
Three main changes to services were proposed. Eight out of ten people and organisations who gave feedback said they understood why things needed to change. Most people were supportive of proposed changes to intensive care and emergency surgery.
People had more varied views about the proposal to make permanent a temporary overnight closure of the A&E, with three out of ten supporting this and seven out of ten expressing concerns.
Regardless of whether or not they supported the proposals, people wanted the CCG to consider the following points when making decisions about next steps:
- Whether the proposals account for the size and age of the population.
- Whether there are enough GPs, ambulances and space at other hospitals for the proposals to work.
- Whether it is appropriate for people and their loved ones to travel to another hospital overnight in an emergency.
Dr Martin Jones, Medical Director at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group said:
We are really pleased that so many local people and hospital staff gave their views during the public consultation. We now have a much better understanding of what people think and what is most important to them. Our vision is for Weston General to be a dynamic hospital at the heart of the local community – offering more of the services that local people need most often.
The report will inform the recommendations made to our Governing Body about the future shape of services at Weston Hospital. These recommendations will be considered in October 2019.
You can read the full report and a summary version on the Healthier Together website.