NHS "success regime" consultation on our local hospitals - what happens now?

The NHS "success regime" consultation on our local hospitals - has ended: the fight to save our hospital services goes on.

The local NHS publishes their initial report on the health consultation in early February and are looking to take a decision in March.

We must and will continue to fight to protect services at West Cumberland Hospital and ensure we keep consultant-led maternity services at WCH.

If the "success regime" proposes an unacceptable outcome the people of West Cumbria can and will ask the government to make them think again.

The consultation on the proposals for healthcare in West, North and East Cumbria closed at midnight on Monday.

The "Success Regime" published the following on Monday on their consultation website:

"A decision on the options considered as part of the Healthcare For The Future consultation is expected to be made in March 2017.

The consultation has looked at several key hospital services delivered in West, North and East Cumbria over the last 12 weeks and closes today (Dec 19^th).

The options were drawn up by NHS organisations working together through the Success Regime. NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is the part of the local health system which has the statutory responsibility for consultation.

Over the last 12 weeks there have been 17 public meetings, and many more smaller sessions. People have been asked to share their views on the options for consultation online, or by filling in the survey in the consultation document or by making a personal submission to a Freepost address.

NHS Cumbria CCG’s Governing Body has carefully considered a timetable for decision making.
 
Members feel it is important to make a decision as early as possible, but only if they are confident that public feedback has been thoroughly considered.

The public feedback is being analysed independently by The Campaign Company, and a report is expected in early February. Work will also be carried out to assess any alternative options suggested by members of the public and community groups. Local clinicians and regional specialists also will be involved in that process.

Health leaders from across the system and NHS Cumbria CCG’s Governing Body will also spend time considering the public feedback from the consultation process.

It is expected NHS Cumbria CCG’s Governing Body will make a decision in early March, ahead of the local government elections in May.

This will then be considered by Cumbria County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee."