Somerset Sustainability and Transformation Plan unveiled to save money and change the face of the NHS in the county

Maternity provision in Somerset is among 12 “vulnerable service lines” and, along with paediatrics, dermatology, oral surgery, urology and oncology, has been identified as a priority for 2016/17.

Proposals unveiled this month to improve health and care services in the county suggest Taunton’s Musgrove Park and Yeovil Hospitals should develop a “joint approach to service redesign for maternity and paediatrics with Dorset”.

But Dr Matthew Dolman, lead officer for Somerset Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), has dismissed suggestions in the national media that Musgrove’s maternity unit could be axed.

Dr Matthew Dolman.

He said: “There are no plans to close maternity services in Somerset, either at Musgrove Park Hospital or at Yeovil District Hospital.

“What we will be doing is taking a close look at how our services are run to make sure they are organised in the best way for mothers-to-be and offer a safe and effective service.

“With two maternity services running independently of each other in Somerset there are likely to be opportunities for much closer collaboration and therefore improvement.”

However, to the become sustainable, the maternity unit at the hospital needs millions of pounds-worth of funding.

The STP outlines how Musgrove needs a new maternity unit to replace the current building, which is not “an acceptable environment” – but at a cost of £27 million, it could be difficult to secure funding.

Musgrove is also looking for £51.5 million for new theatre and critical care facilities to replace those in Second World War buildings that present a “risk of service failure from leaking roofs and or critical infrastructure failure”.

Meanwhile, Musgrove and Yeovil – which handle 4,700 births annually – will have a share of £8 million NHS cash to “work collaboratively across organisational boundaries” to ensure mothers-to-be have a better experience and to reduce the risk of stillbirths.

Hayley Peters, Musgrove’s director of patient care, said: “In two years all women and families accessing maternity care in Somerset can expect to agree an individual care plan with their named midwife and have better access to information and their care records.

“In addition, those with additional needs, including mental health, will have additional support and continuity and will be able to access all the other health and social care services they may need.”

Hayley Peters.

The other 12 vulnerable services are set to be reviewed over the coming months.

Some departments, including dermatology, have faced staff shortages over recent months and one of the options set out in the plan is for better joint working between Somerset’s hospitals, mainly between Yeovil and Musgrove.

A spokesman for Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, which plans and funds health service in the county, said: “There are no plans to merge departments at Yeovil District Hospital and Musgrove Park Hospital.

“We want to be assured that all of Somerset’s health and care services are providing the safest and highest quality care and can continue to do so in the future.

“This means working with the expert staff who provide our services and with the patients who rely on them, to identify opportunities for improvement.

“Joint working across our acute hospitals is already happening among some clinical teams...helping to increase resilience to certain services.”

*THE Somerset Sustainability and Transformation Plan, launched this month, outlines ambitious proposals to improve the health of people and the way we are cared for.
It aims to deliver high quality care and further prevention of illness while addressing major financial pressures linked with staff shortages across all areas of health and social care.
The cash-strapped health service is facing a raft of financial challenges in the coming years, and it is hoped this plan could help them save millions of pounds.
The plan puts accessible, well co-ordinated and joined-up services close to people’s homes at the centre of its vision.
A spokesman for Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, which is developing the STP with its partners, said: “Somerset’s ageing population means more people are living longer and managing multiple complex illnesses like diabetes and hypertension – these are costly to support and require more integrated care from a range of different organisations.
“At the same time, Somerset has higher than average levels of obesity and lower levels of activity, which together with more people moving to Somerset, will create an increasing demand for health and care services.”
The plan seeks to ‘flip’ the current system where time, effort and money are thrown into treatment to one where the emphasis is on prevention, avoiding illness and helping people stay independent and in control of their health and wellbeing.
GPs and hospitals to mental health and social care workers will have to work more closely together, with a move away from hospital-based care towards care and support in people’s own homes and communities.
The plan says that although people in Somerset are living longer – girls born today will live to an average of 83.8 years, while boys will reach 80 – the age at which we can expect to remain free from long-term health problems is not going up at the same rate. In other words, we can expect to be more ill for longer.
It adds that people need to be taught how to take control of their own lives to avoid problems such as diabetes, hypertension caused by obesity, lack of physical exercise, tobacco dependency and alcohol use.
Encouraging people to manage their own health will enable acute hospitals to provide only elements of care that cannot be provided elsewhere, moving resources “away from bed-based care” and potentially saving millions of pounds.
Dr Dolman said: “Doing nothing is neither desirable nor sustainable and that’s the case across the country.
“The health and care system in Somerset needs real change, which puts prevention at its heart.
“We haven’t kept pace with the changing demands and this is the opportunity to address that and focus on keeping people healthy, independent and in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.
“Where people do need hospital treatment, we want to make sure they can get home as quickly as possible.”
Dr Dolman said carrying on without change would lead to a £600 million deficit across the system by 2021.
He added: “It is essential that health and social care are financially sustainable.
“If we continue spending beyond our means, we will struggle to maintain good, safe services.
“Our plan is as challenging as it is ambitious, but we are all working together and determined to make it happen with the input and support of local people.
“This is just the start of a process. It sets out a way forward but one we are committed to discussing and developing with patients, carers and the wider public.”
A spokesman for Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, which plans and funds health service in the county, said: “There are no plans to merge departments at Yeovil District Hospital and Musgrove Park Hospital.
“We want to be assured that all of Somerset’s health and care services are providing the safest and highest quality care and can continue to do so in the future.
“This means working with the expert staff who provide our services and with the patients who rely on them, to identify opportunities for improvement.
“Joint working across our acute hospitals is already happening among some clinical teams...helping to increase resilience to certain services.”