Health chiefs poised to approve shake-up of hospital services

Just one formal objection has been submitted in opposition to the “Moving With The Times” scheme, which will see changes made at Montagu and Tickhill Road hospitals in order to “provide more care closer to home”.

At a meeting of the NHS South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw “cluster board”, to be held this morning at White Rose House in Doncaster, members are set to agree the changes and publish the results to a 13-week public consultation.

According to a report from Chris Stainforth, chief operating officer at NHS Doncaster, the aim of the plans is to “ensure that the Doncaster population is able to access, both now and in the future, safe and effective services that are valued by patients”.

Mr Stainforth’s report, which is set to go before members at this morning’s meeting, adds: “As medical and clinical practice has developed it was inevitable that changes would be required to ensure patients receive the best care possible in a sustainable way and within the financial envelopes available.”

He says that, “on the whole, patients and the public were positive about the changes” and gave their backing to the plans, which involve creating a 58-bed rehabilitation unit at Mexborough’s Montagu Hospital with annual running costs of £4.9m, to treat patients who have fallen, have had an acute illness or have had a stroke.

Prior to the public consultation, it was decided that Montagu Hospital should stop admitting patients brought in by “blue light” ambulances and suffering from serious conditions such as breathing difficulties or heart problems.

At present £2.8m is spent each year on “acute care” at Montagu Hospital, but this investment would move to Doncaster Royal Infirmary and other hospitals.

The proposals also involve closing wards at Tickhill Road hospital and ploughing cash into home support services such as community nurses.

Last month the plans were given the backing of Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is set to take over Doncaster Primary Care Trust’s role.

Dr Sam Feeney said: “We have been able to reassure people that a new rehabilitation centre at Montagu, supported by more care at home, would speed up recovery and result in better health outcomes, helping patients to quickly get back to everyday life.”

The one formal objection submitted in relation to the plans is on the grounds of the future of Montagu Hospital.

Meanwhile, other queries raised during the public consultation involve issues such as transport between Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital, potential parking problems, and the transformation of the Mexborough hospital into a rehab unit.

Mr Stainforth’s report says: “There was significant interest in the services that patients would receive at the rehabilitation centre. The new centre would replace the current services which are mainly provided from the Tickhill Road site.

“The proposals would allow the service to be modernised, ensuring specialist provision was available seven days a week and 24 hours a day.

“This intensive level of service and modernised facilities will make it possible to reduce the amount of time patients have to stay in an acute hospital before being discharged to community rehabilitation services. “

Overall, the number of beds at Montagu hospital would be cut by 18, but there would be an extra 17 beds at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and 15 at other hospitals.

The report adds: “Implementation of these commissioning proposals will be phased over the next three years, commencing in April 2012, subject to approval from the board.”