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NHS England rejects financially ‘unrealistic’ transformation plan

NHS England rejects financially ‘unrealistic’ transformation plan
8 December 2016



NHS England has "little confidence" in Shropshire’s regional plan to overhaul health and social care services in the area.

In a letter to Simon Wright, the head of the sustainability and transformation plan (STP), NHS bosses said the plan failed to account for the CCG’s deficit.

NHS England has "little confidence" in Shropshire’s regional plan to overhaul health and social care services in the area.

In a letter to Simon Wright, the head of the sustainability and transformation plan (STP), NHS bosses said the plan failed to account for the CCG’s deficit.

It goes on to say that the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin STP would need £271 million of external funding between 2017 and 2021, while the STP highlights that a further £40 million is required, bringing the total funds required up to £311 million.

But the letter added that there is a risk this level of capital will not be available to use.

The STP currently says the scale of its deficit is £131.4 million but the authors of the letter have said the STP must be revised and resubmitted by December 23.

The letter said: “Regionally there is little confidence in the STP as the basis for operational planning. This is specifically because it does not address the CCG deficit position.”

Cllr Shaun Davies, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said NHS England’s comments were “not surprising” as the financial model “bears little resemblance to reality”.

He said: “We absolutely agree that local health services need to evolve but what is outlined in the STP is, I believe, simply not realistic.”

Malcolm Pate, leader of Shropshire Council, added: “I recognise that in an attempt to meet unrealistic deadlines to submit the STP, essential steps have been missed out and not enough work and thought has gone into making the STP document stack up.

“It was absolutely right that both councils pointed out obvious flaws both before and after the STP was submitted, whilst at the same time recognising that we have made progress and partnership working is improving.”

NHS England’s comments come after the two councils rejected the STP last week for failing to invest enough in community and primary care services.

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