Have your say on proposed changes to some NHS services

As the population grows and people live longer, the demand for health care continues to rise. Meanwhile, there is a widening gap between the funding that the NHS receives and the money it needs to carry on providing existing services.

In fact, NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG is predicting a £10.77m deficit by the end of 2016-17, despite making progress with plans to save £9.7m.

Therefore, the CCG has joined forces with four other CCGs (South Cheshire, Vale Royal, West Cheshire and Wirral) to seek people's views on plans to reduce the amount they spend on the services they say have the lowest impact on patient care to enable them to have more to spend on priority services.

Providing similar treatments and procedures across a wider area would also enable the CCGs to work more cost-effectively together while reducing the existing variation in services.

Dr Mike Clark, CCG clinical lead for the proposals, said: "This is the first time that CCGs in this area have come together to seek the views of the public and stakeholders as we continue with our programme of changes. Our aim is to ensure that the services we provide are effective and sustainable while we continue to encourage people to lead healthier lives. It is important for us to make the best use of our resources and we are encouraging people to have their say."

The consultation is seeking the public's views on changes to the following services:

• cosmetic procedures

• treatments for some skin conditions

• ear, nose and throat procedures

• fertility and sterilisation treatments

• surgery for injuries and conditions affecting bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves

• services relating to the urinary tract, reproductive organs and incontinence.

Depending on the consultation findings, the CCGs will make decisions along one of the following lines for each service area:

• change the threshold that needs to be met before a treatment or procedure can be carried out

• stop the routine provision of treatments and procedures, inviting the referring clinician to make an individual funding request

• stop funding services, except in exceptional clinical circumstances.

The consultation runs from today (Tuesday 25 October) until midnight on Tuesday 17 January 2017. NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG's Governing Body will make a final decision on the plans on Wednesday 25 January or Wednesday 22 February 2017.

You can make your views known via the online survey and there will be a number of public meetings held during the consultation period.

Tags:

NHS, NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group