People living in the Lowestoft area are being invited to give their views on proposals to develop high quality, sustainable health services which will meet the changing needs of local patients during an extensive consultation which launches next week.
HealthEast, the NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group, is asking for views on plans to develop state-of-the-art services which provide excellent quality care closer to people’s homes while also offering value for money for taxpayers.
The proposals have been developed by HealthEast in partnership with the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH). The Lowestoft Health Development Group, which includes patients, voluntary organisations and charities, has helped create the consultation document.
As well as improving the environment from which services are provided, they have been designed to help health, social care and voluntary services to work together more effectively for patients to ensure people receive the right treatment in the right place at the right time.
HealthEast is now asking for views on three options during the 12-week consultation, which begins on Monday (20 May 2013). They are:
1. Move services to Kirkley Rise and develop services in north Lowestoft
This preferred option would see services move to the state-of-the-art health centre which is currently being built at Kirkley Rise on Economy Road. In addition, another modern health centre would be built in north Lowestoft to ensure everyone in the town could easily access services.
2. Develop phase two of Kirkley Rise
A second permanent building would be constructed on the Kirkley Rise site to bring together a range of services for local people under one roof. This could include housing, education and employment services. This option can only happen if all the changes in option one take place.
3. Limited change
Services would continue from Lowestoft Hospital with the new building in Kirkley Rise used as a home for GP services, an administration base for teams who offer care in the patient’s home (community services) and public health services, like weight management.
Any changes which are made will be dependent on securing funding.
Andy Evans, chief executive of HealthEast, said: “Our current system does not always deliver the care which people need and want, with gaps between different services, duplication and delays for patients. The proposals in this consultation are designed to address this, by providing high quality, seamless services in modern surroundings which are closer to people’s homes.
“We believe these proposals will provide safe, high quality, easily accessible healthcare for people in Lowestoft while offering excellent value for money. However, we will not be making any decisions until we’ve heard your views. Do get in touch and tell us what you think and take this opportunity to influence the shape of our future services.”
The consultation will run until Monday 12 August. All responses will be analysed by the University of East Anglia and a full report considered by the Boards of HealthEast, James Paget and ECCH. HealthEast will make a decision on the proposals in October 2013.
Rebecca Driver, director of engagement for HealthEast, said: “We are committed to listening to our patients and we would encourage anyone in the Lowestoft area who has an interest in healthcare to give us their views. This is a genuine opportunity to make your voice heard and help make sure care provided in Lowestoft continues to meet your needs.”
Summaries of the consultation will be distributed in local newspapers. The full document will be available at www.greatyarmouthandwaveneyccg.nhs.uk and in GP surgeries and local libraries.
To respond, email [email protected], complete the online questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.com/s/LowestoftPublicConsultation or post comments to our Facebook page at https://en-gb.facebook.com/GYWCCG
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