WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Harriett Baldwin has called for a fresh approach to delivering health services across Tenbury and south Shropshire at a summit of local health chiefs and local councillors.
Harriett called for Tenbury’s community hospital to be put at the centre of an improved offering as the NHS deals with the service backlog caused by the pandemic.
The meeting, which was hosted by Harriett and neighbouring MP Philip Dunne, aimed to identify how the local health chiefs are planning the post-covid recovery and enhancing care now that extra funds are available from the Social Care Levy which came into force this month.
The meeting was attended by Sarah Dugan, who is the chief executive responsible for the Tenbury Community Hospital, Matthew Hopkins, who is chief executive of the main county hospitals and Simon Trickett who is the chief executive in charge of commissioning health care provision across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Harriett commented: “Philip and I wanted to gather all the chief execs in one room, first of all to formally thank the NHS for all it has done over the last two years of covid crisis, but also to start to plan for a better way of delivering care to the people living in and around Tenbury.
“We have a marvellous community hospital but I have heard so many stories of frustration from local people who are having to make long and difficult journeys to the other side of the county for routine appointments or even x-rays.
“I am grateful that the health chiefs, the councillors and the local GP were able to come together in a room to commit to re-thinking how and where we can best deliver care for Tenbury residents, and plan for a future where there will be more house-building and higher demand on local services.
“I was pleased with the response from the gathering and look forward to further constructive discussions as the health system develops an integrated strategy to deliver health services to local residents
“I was encouraged that health chiefs were unanimous in endorsing the value of Tenbury hospital in their plans and we agreed a number of different initiatives to take forward.”
Philip Dunne MP added: “I was pleased to have been invited to attend this informative health summit, hosted by my good colleague and Parliamentary neighbour, Harriett Baldwin MP, to address the health needs of Worcestershire/Shropshire border patients, served by Tenbury/Clee Hill GP practice.
“I support fully efforts to ensure sustainability of Tenbury Community Hospital in Burford.”