January 2012 - Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals

SWBTB (1/12) 286 (a)
commissioners have properly considered how the proposals affect choice of
provider, setting and intervention, making a strong case for the quality of the
proposed service and improvements in patient experience.
The evidence for demonstrating how this project meets these four tests to date is
summarised below.
10.2 Patients and Public Engagement
A consultation plan has been developed by the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team at
Sandwell PCT which describes the various approaches to engage patients and the public at
different stages of the project. A key outcome of the plan is “An informed and aware patient
and public body that understand the reasons for change and the solutions proposed”.
To date, during the pre-consultation phase, the project has included the following
engagement:
A presentation to patients and carers in the Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull
Cardiac and Stroke Network Shadow Board (this Shadow Board was established by
the network to engage with patients and carers on key developments in stroke and
cardiac care) on 29 th September 2011 to inform them of this proposed reconfiguration
work and seek their engagement.
An event was held on 28 th November 2011 to facilitate 12 local patients and carers to
score the long list of options and seek their detailed views on the long list of options
identified through the project steering group. Their scores make up a significant
proportion of the final scoring in reaching a short list of options.
Engagement with the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee of Sandwell and Birmingham
Councils. As described in previous sections presentations have been made to this
committee on 5 th July 2011, 22 nd September 2011 and 17th January 2012. Feedback
from these discussions has been used to refine the evaluation criteria, consultation
document and consultation plan in addition to seeking the committee’s agreement that
formal public consultation is required and the dates that this can take place.
10.3 GP Engagement
This is a time of great change for the NHS and particularly for GPs who are establishing
Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to take on responsibility for the commissioning of
local health services. As a result local CCGs have been changing their configuration across
Sandwell and West Birmingham and the engagement for this stroke reconfiguration project in
terms of GP representation on the project management structure has proved difficult. In
recognition of this the project team has attempted to engage GPs meaningfully through:
Presentation to all 3 Sandwell CCGs regarding stroke reconfiguration
Engagement with the chair of the new, large Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG
and co-chair of Birmingham stroke services reconfiguration process
Engagement with GP representatives as part of the short listing process (see above).
Another round of presentations are also planned to each CCG, informing them of the
proposed short list of options. This approach will continue to happen at every key milestone
of the project.
In addition the consultation plan includes key engagement with GPs in the formal consultation
process. This will take various forms but will build on the engagement work already achieved.
10.4 Evidence Base of Service Changes
The Clinical Case for Change provides a clear and extensive description of both the
challenges of the current service model and opportunities for improvement from the proposed
24