The big idea on healthcare is that politicians have been removed from the process through which our health services are designed and that clinicians are empowered to make the decisions on what the NHS should look like locally. In Somerset, a group of really talented clinicians drew up our Sustainability & Transformation Plan (STP) and whilst there are some bits that are uncomfortable reading for an MP, the reality is that our doctors and nurses understand much better how medicine and healthcare more generally are changing. It makes sense for them to be in charge.
However, this week I’ve met with the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group and heard some news about the way NHS England have decided to award funding for new medical facilities around the country. Significant investment has gone to Dorset but Somerset has missed out completely. Frustratingly, it appears that NHS England are backing projects that fit within their vision for modern healthcare even if the recommendation of local clinicians is for something different.
I am going to challenge NHS England’s decision making because it seems completely at odds with what Parliament has legislated for. Of course NHS England cannot support every proposal for a new surgery, community hospital or clinic but those decisions should be made on the merits of each application not its compliance with a central vision for the NHS nationally.
Somerset’s STP will vary dramatically from the plan for Bristol and may even be different from apparently similar counties like Dorset or Devon. NHS England might be itching to impose a bit of uniformity – bean counters rather like that – but I want to be sure that the decisions they’ve just taken about funding for new facilities in Somerset are exclusively on the merits of what was proposed.