I have been contacted by constituents regarding the development of a Sustainability and Transformation Plan (‘STP’) which our local NHS team is drawing together. NHS teams from East and West Sussex, as well as East Surrey, are working as one on this matter.

There has been a suggestion, fuelled by the campaign group 38 degrees, that the STP lacks transparency. Any constituent with a search engine will be able to find the following information from East Sussex Healthcare Trust if they type the necessary details in to the system. I attach the web information here:

http://www.esht.nhs.uk/about-us/stp/

This information explains the composition of the STP with the following description:

Sussex and East Surrey has set up an STP with representative from all health and care organisations – NHS trusts (providers), clinical commissioning groups and local councils. In addition, local GPs are involved and Healthwatch is represented and fully embedded in the Programme Board. Nine working groups have been formed covering: Acute provision (including mental health); workforce; primary and community care provision; digital improvement, estates; provider productivity improvement, communication and engagement and governance are meeting regularly to work through ideas and practicalities.

Working groups and the programme Board have met, together and separately about 11 times since January and will continue to meet on a regular basis.

The STP Programme Board presented initial ideas to NHS England on 30 June.  

As for the current status:

“Initial feedback from NHS England is expected later in the summer. On receipt of that feedback Sussex and East Surrey STP will start to roll out a robust communication and public engagement programme designed to look at options and to gather public opinion.  Healthwatch is involved in planning the communication and public engagement programme will also be involved in analysing feedback and preparing a final report on the results of the engagement programme.”

I recently contacted the Chief Executive of East Sussex Healthcare Trust to discuss the likely outcomes from the STP. This was followed up with a conversation with our lead representative from the NHS Clinical Commissioner Group who purchase NHS services locally. Both leaders have assured me that the means to deliver a better local health service is by the ‘East Sussex Better Together’ programme which will align all of our health and social care providers and see a better service, in hospitals and community initiatives. You can find detail of this programme here:

https://news.eastsussex.gov.uk/east-sussex-better-together/

Far from there being a lack of transparency, the STP and Better Together programme is designed to bring all healthcare providers, and the public, closer together for our healthcare provision. I hope that constituents find this information helpful and transparent.