Background
The Healthy Futures programme relates to the future shape of adult healthcare in the north east area of Greater Manchester. Its proposals outline the future provision of acute care, specifically community and hospital health services in Bury, Heywood and Middleton, Oldham, Rochdale, North Manchester and Rossendale. Deciding the outcome of the Healthy Futures consultation was the responsibility of a joint committee of the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) whose patients were affected. The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Healthy Futures was established in September 2005 to scrutinise and respond formally to the reconfiguraton proposals and consultation.
A public consultation on the proposals took place between January and May 2006. Three options for changes to services were included.
The Healthy Futures Programme Discussion Document and the Summary Document are available to view on the external website Best for Health.
The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee met over a period of months and received evidence from a variety of sources before, during and after the consultation period. The Scrutiny Committee resolved to support the preferred option put forward by the PCT in the area.
The preferred option would mean the removal of the Accident and Emergency Unit at Rochdale Infirmary. This would be replaced by an Urgent Care Centre, turning Rochdale into one of the first 'locality hospitals' in the country. Most patients who currently attend A&E would continue to be seen at the centre. In addition, further investment in community care is planned.
The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee was made up of three Councillors from each of the affected local authorities: Bury MBC, Lancashire County Council, Manchester City Council, Oldham MBC and Rochdale MBC.
Recent developments
January - May 2006
Public consultation.
14 September 2006
The Healthy Futures Joint Committee of PCTs decided that the preferred option should be implemented unless it was incompatible with the Making it Better proposals (see the Making it Better - Joint Committee page).
5 January 2007
The Committee of PCTs formally agreed that the changes for Healthy Futures under option 1 (the preferred option) were compatibale with the Making it Better proposals.
16 January 2007
The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Healthy Futures formally gave its support to the preferred option.
25 January 2007
The local health overview and scrutiny committee at Rochdale MBC resolved to refer the matter to the Secretary of State for Health on the grounds that the proposals were not in the interest of the local community or health services in the borough.
The Secretary of State in turn, referred this matter to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) for advice. The IRP is a body, which was established in 2003 to provide advice to the Secretary of State for Health on contested proposals for health service change in England.
Note - The Making it Better proposals were also referred to the Secretary of State and the IRP and the review looked at both programmes.
12 March 2007
The IRP began its review, visiting the sites that would be affected and talking to numerous people and bodies, including the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
26 June 2007
The IRP submitted its advice to the Secretary of State.
It is now for the Secretary of State to make a final decision on what steps to take next. That decision must be published within a month of receiving the IRPs advice. The response submitted by the IRP to the Secretary of State, will appear on the IRP website from 23 July 2007.
Please note that the Health Secretary Alan Johnson has requested more time to consider the proposals. The IRP report and the Secretary's response will be published in due course.
24 August 2007
The Health Secretary Alan Johnson endorsed the recommendations made by the IRP. The IRP broadly supported the preferred options and made 10 recommendations. The press release and full report, which was submitted to Mr. Johnson can be found on the IRP website.
For further information on the Healthy Futures Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its work, please contact the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Officer on 0161 253 6728.
