Trust's response to today's government announcement on Shaping a Healthier Future
The secretary of state for health and social care today confirmed that the north west London response to the NHS Long Term Plan should supersede the 2012 Shaping a Healthier Future programme, and that there would be no changes to A&E services at Charing Cross.
This is in line with the work we have done around our Charing Cross estate and is consistent with the approach being developed by NHS commissioners and providers. The announcement provides welcome clarity.
The Shaping a Healthier Future programme has delivered significant benefits for patients and communities in north west London. Much has been achieved over the past seven years and the programme’s ambitious vision for improving health and integrating care has remained relevant while there have been some big changes in the wider health and care system and in the needs of our local population. However, this is the right time to look again at how we move on to respond to the challenges and opportunities as we face them today in order to achieve the most with, and for, our patients and local communities.
We’ve recently seen some of our largest ever investments in new facilities and equipment at Charing Cross. Most recently this has included the refurbishment and expansion of the A&E department. We’re pleased that this announcement gives further reassurance to staff, patients and local residents that Charing Cross will continue to have a very important role to play in providing emergency and inpatient services.
The local response to the Long Term Plan will still need to include significant change, involving some difficult decisions and trade-offs, if we are to offer high quality, person-centered care sustainably. By realigning under the NHS Long Term Plan, updating our planning assumptions and enabling all of our staff, patients, partners and stakeholders to be involved in its development and delivery over time, we will have the best possible chance of success.
