The Cumbria Health and Well-being Scrutiny Committee has launched an examination into new proposals to change health services in North Cumbria.
Cumbria Primary Care Trust is now consulting with the public on its 'Closer to Home' proposals, which outline plans to develop community services, including an extended role for community hospitals, to allow more people to be treated closer to their home. Acute hospitals in North Cumbria will also concentrate on providing services for people who need specialist care and the use of specialist equipment. The PCT proposals set out the roles of the two acute hospitals in north Cumbria, namely in Carlisle and in a new hospital in West Cumbria.
The 'Closer to Home' consultation will run between 27 September 2007 and 4 January 2008 and the Cumbria Health and Well-being Scrutiny Committee will also be ensuring the proposals meet the needs of the Cumbrian community. To help the Scrutiny Committee with its work, Cumbria PCT will inform the Committee of the comments it receives during the consultation. The Scrutiny Committee would therefore encourage anyone with a view to express to send their comments directly to Cumbria PCT.
During the consultation, members of the Scrutiny Committee, which includes county and district councillors, will be looking at the NHS proposals and talking to stakeholders. The Scrutiny Committee will be meeting with health service users, their families, organisations which represent patients' interests, and other individuals and organisations with a genuine interest in the proposals.
Towards the end of the consultation period, the Scrutiny Committee will make recommendations to the Cumbria PCT, which has to consider and respond to any recommendations made. The PCT is expected to try to reach agreement with the Scrutiny Committee on any issues which the Committee raises.
In the very last resort, if agreement cannot be reached, the Scrutiny Committee has powers to refer the consultation to the Secretary of State for Health, who will appoint an independent national body to visit Cumbria and make its own assessment of the proposals to the Secretary of State.
Anyone wishing to contact the Scrutiny Committee directly, should write, fax or e-mail to the address below.
Scrutiny Unit
Cumbria County Council
The Courts
Carlisle
CA3 8LZ
Fax: 01228 606727
E-mail: scrutiny@cumbriacc.gov.uk
ENDS
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 606332