STRUCTURE: Plans to centralise gynaecological cancer services in the NHS Somerset area have been shelved after they failed to meet the new reconfiguration tests.
Following a review of local gynaecological cancer services in 2004 by the Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire Cancer Services Network it was agreed that Taunton and Somerset Foundation Trust would become a specialist centre.
However, there was no formal agreement and in 2008 a progress review across the network was initiated and resulted in an agreement that the best option for specialist gynaecological cancer surgery services in the Avon catchment area would involve the centralisation of such services in Bristol.
These plans were postponed following the general election when the health secretary set out four key tests which service reconfiguration must meet. These are:
- demonstrate support from GP commissioners;
- strengthened public and patient involvement;
- clarity on clinical evidence base;
- consistency with current and prospective patient choice
The decision to centralise services in Bristol was reviewed in light of the new tests and concluded that the support from GP commissioners was not sought comprehensively in some practices, strengthened public and patient engagement was a key element of the review process from September 2008 but the views of patients and public were mixed and no consensus reached and the clarity of the clinical evidence has now been contested.
A report to the board of NHS Somerset chief executive Ian Tipney “recommended that the reconfiguration proposal set out in September 2009 should not be progressed” and a “local solution” adopted instead”.
For those Somerset patients accessing treatment at the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust Bath or in Bristol, local arrangements will be put in place to develop a central specialist multi-disciplinary team ensuring joint cover and audit arrangements are in place across the two providers. These arrangements will bring patients many of the benefits of centralisation without physically moving location of services.
Source date
16 February 2011
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