Shropshire Future Fit consultation now to start in September

Bosses had hoped they could start public consultation in June, but due to not finding anyone to carry out the independent review, three months after it was announced, Future Fit was delayed further.

In a report being put before Shropshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group tomorrow, Debbie Vogler, director of the Future Fit programme, said the independent review eventually started on June 12 and will be finished by next week.

She said: "Work progresses on the independent review and is near completion.

"The delay in initiating this work is the cause of the primary delay in the programme timeline and critical path and therefore the impact on the consultation timeline.

"Preparations for consultation continue with the development of the consultation materials including the consultation document, survey questionnaire and a refresh of the programme website.

"Given the delay to timelines related to the independent review, following programme board and a joint committee decision in July, the consultation will also be delayed.

"It is the view of the SROs and programme director that a revised timeline will include starting consultation during September subject to the timings of the NHSE assurance process.

"Currently the focus is to recruit the support required for the consultation process."

The Future Fit process, which could see one of the county’s A&E units set up at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital department downgraded, began more than three years ago.

It has since spent millions of pounds on deciding where hospital services should be located.

The board came up with its preferred option of the A&E unit at the RSH last year. But Telford & Wrekin Council threatened legal action and it was decided that a review should be taken into how the decision making process was carried out.

Following the review, plans are expected to go to public consultation and a final decision will then be made in January.